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Chipotle’s goal to be the “clean label” fast food chain has finally been fully achieved.
The burrito-making chain announced this morning that they have developed new tortilla formulations that eliminate all additives and preservatives from its tortillas. Their entire menu now only contains 51 different ingredients following this impressive change.
Chipotle has been working to eliminate additives and preservatives from its tortillas for the past two years, and has finally been able to achieve that goal. Flour tortillas now contain just five ingredients (flour, water, canola oil, salt, and yeast) while the corn tortillas used for chips have just two (corn masa and water).
The shift in tortilla recipes has allowed the company to finally be fully clean-label and free from ingredients like added colors, flavors, and preservatives. Apart from lemon juice and lime juice (which the company says are used for flavor over preservation), no other such ingredients now exist in Chipotle’s food.
Chipotle’s press release claims that the shift to this level of transparency in food is needed since similar companies that claim their ingredients to be natural are still not clean label.
“Chipotle’s accomplishment comes at a time when other fast food brands are scrambling to clean up their ingredient statements as consumers turn away from processed foods and foods with added colors, flavors, preservatives and other industrial additives. But nearly every fast food chain has chosen the easier path of simply switching from artificial flavors and colors to ‘natural’ versions of additives that serve the same purpose. Some fast food companies have gone so far as to designate the preservatives they use as ‘natural’ even though nearly all preservatives identified in FDA rules are known as ‘chemical preservatives.'”
It definitely makes Chipotle stand out from the rest of the crowd and increases trust in the brand, as Chipotle is definitely more clean-label than any other giant fast food chain.
Between this major announcement, a recovery in the company’s sales, and a restoration of Chipotle’s brand image following the major food poisoning controversies of last year, things are definitely looking up for the build-your-own burrito franchise.


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Third Party Logistics News recently posted on how those considering Vietnamese manufacturing should look long and hard at Vietnam’s logistics problems. The post is entitled, “Vietnam : Lack of logistics infrastructure = higher logistics costs,” and it contains good advice for those considering Vietnam.
It concludes what I always conclude. Vietnam is great for some things and not so great for other things and nobody should just be rushing in:
Anybody who has been reading our blog since its inception knows that we’ve always cautioned against “rushing” into China and evaluating the pros and cons for going in carefully before making that decision. We’ve never advocated avoiding China, simply that people should think twice and consider carefully before making that jump – for some companies, it just might not make sense.
As China moves to higher-end manufacturing and costs in general have continued to rise, some companies have been tripping over themselves in their rush to move production to even-lower-cost Vietnam. I wish I could say I was puzzled at the frenzy of activity in Vietnam or that I was surprised by the subsequent port congestion issues that slammed Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year, but I can’t. It’s interesting to note that the same advice we have advocated in the past in regards to China – and still do – are similarly being ignored by countless firms now rushing headlong into the next “hot sourcing country”, Vietnam.
It’s been pointed out before, but I’ll point it out again: Vietnam is not China. And one of the largest differences between the two countries is the level of port and logistics infrastructure. Vietnam simply can’t compare to China’s port infrastructure:
Put simply, Vietnam’s logistics, especially its ports, are not on China’s level and that oftentimes directly translates into increased costs.

domain: news


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Privacy focused messaging platform, Telegram, have been planning the release of their Telegram Open Network (TON) blockchain for some time.
I remember the swathes of scams which proceeded its initial announcement back in 2018. Everybody involved in the cryptocurrency universe wanted to get a piece of the action, prompting the usual round of dodgy emails.
Much to the dismay of potential retail investors, Telegram opted to conduct a private investment round. During said investment round the company only allowed large investments from accredited investors.
They eventually concluded their investment round with a total haul of over $1.7 billion USD. This made the TON ICO one of the most successful, ever.
So What is Happening Now?
It turns out that the latest ‘token sale’ could well be no more than a whale taking the opportunity to cash in on their investment.
According to an official press release the latest round of investment is being held by Gram Asia.
Gram Asia is the largest holder of GRAM tokens in the asian continent, however they are not officially affiliated with the Telegram company. They simply bought a significant portion of tokens when they had the chance.
They have teamed up with Liquid.com, a cryptocurrency exchange, to enable retail users to part take in their token offering.
According to the official press release Liquid.com will have “TON-compatible wallets” accessible on their platform, even though the TON blockchain isn’t scheduled for release until later this year. It is due for public release in October 2019.
Treat it With Caution
For me it raises more questions that answers. Why, if you made such a significant investment, would you decide to lower your stake in a project which is due to go live in a matter of months?
Surely it would be more financially rewarding to hold onto your tokens until the launch of the TON public blockchain.
It begs the question of whether Gram Asia have any insider knowledge which they are acting upon. It also worth noting that, in this token sale, users are not dealing directly with the company who created the tokens. They are buying tokens for a network which does not exist, from a third party.
Maybe their plan was to employ the Eric Cartman technique.
For those who do not watch South Park, the Eric Cartman technique is a method of increasing sales. It generally means you increase interest in your product by refusing to allow the public to access it for a period of time.
One saving grace for anyone interested in buying some GRAM tokens comes in the form of a promise from Liquid.com. They have agreed to refund any investments made in the event that the blockchain does not go live.
Love, peace and happiness.


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The latest Media Create chart and sales figure show Japan lurching toward the end of summer.
Sengoku Otome: Legend Battle is the only major Vita new entry shifting a modest 16,054 to land at No. 5, while yet another Idea Factory otome title, Moujuu-Tachi to Ohimesama, sneaks in at No. 19 with 4.750 sales.
Weekly Vita unit sales drop below the 10K barrier for the first time this year, but are broadly on trend with previous years. Will any release provide those big spikes over the last quarter of the year? Or is Sony supply-constraining the Vita to manage demand, and prevent big rises and falls to maintain a steady income?
Atelier Firis Alchemist of the Mysterious Journey from Gust and Demon Gaze 2 from Kadokawa are out in Japan later this week, which might help provide the first signs of some much needed spikiness!
Last week's data here.


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LONDON, United Kingdom — This week, we are pleased to introduce two new partners on BoF Careers.
Alex Mill was launched in 2012 by Alex Drexler with a collection of men’s clothes. A few years later, Somsack Sikhounmuong, previously design director at J.Crew, joined the brand. Drexler's father Mickey, former CEO of Gap and J. Crew, serves as a strategic advisor. In the spring of 2019, the company debuted its first women’s collection. The brand's retail partners include Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, Barneys New York and Goop. Alex Mill seeks a digital marketing manager in New York.
In 2002, Heidi Gosman and Penny Klein launched Heidi Klein — a swimwear and holiday brand. Klein is the designer of its swimwear, resortwear, kidswear and accessories line, which is sold in over 150 stores in 40 countries. It remains an independent brand and has two own stores in the UK and one in New York, which opened in 2019. Heidi Klein is looking for a social media and content manager in London.
See all of our jobs and career-related content on BoF Careers, the global marketplace for fashion talent.


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The positive recovery of hotels in the United States will likely continue in 2023, according to “A New Era for U.S. Hotels,” the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) 2023 State of the Hotel Industry Report.
Now that COVID is more manageable and a majority of Americans are vaccinated against the virus and its variations, hotel bookings have recovered to near pre-pandemic levels, says the report. But that doesn’t mean certain aftereffects of the pandemic don’t still present hurdles.
“America’s hotels are poised to begin a new era in operations — one where challenges such as staffing shortages and economic factors, including inflation and borrowing costs, replace COVID as top concerns,” says the AHLA report.
The AHLA identified 2022 as the year of the “new traveler.” Digital nomads and guests combining business with leisure (bleisure travelers) changed guest expectations.
“U.S. hoteliers rose to the challenge of catering to these consumers’ changing travel habits and preferences, and over the course of the year, demand nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels,” says the AHLA report. In 2023, hotels must meet guests’ new demands for cleanliness, price and other factors.
The AHLA report takes its findings from a survey by the organization’s partner Ecolab. In November 2022, Ecolab surveyed 527 consumers about which factors determine hotels they choose to book — and what they expect once they check in.
Here are the main factors that influence guests’ hotel choices, according to the AHLA report.
Affordability is still the top factor that influences guests’ hotel choices. Around 57% of those surveyed say that room price determines the hotels they book. That percentage hasn’t yet recovered to the pre-pandemic level of 67%.
“This suggests that consumers might be slightly less price-conscious or that they value additional amenities or practices from a property,” says the report. “Even [so], a majority (54%) of consumers want to receive discount or loyalty program offers from their favorite lodging establishments.”
Enhanced cleaning regimens are the second big influencer of guest bookings. Yet guests are no longer looking for face masks or temperature and health check requirements.
“Nearly half of respondents (45%) said overall cleanliness and safety protocols influence their choice to stay in a hotel,” says the AHLA report.” This is up from pre-COVID (37%) and a decrease from 2020 (62%). Guests remain most concerned about ensuring the property and guest rooms are clean.
Reservation flexibility is even more important now than during or before the pandemic. Before COVID, fewer than 10% of consumers ranked reservation flexibility as one of the top factors when booking a hotel. For 2023, that percentage doubles to nearly 20%, according to the AHLA report.
Consumers also value sustainable practices when choosing a hotel. For example, stocking rooms with washable glasses instead of plastic cups eliminates plastic waste. Giving guests the option of skipping daily housekeeping and linen changes is another example of hotel sustainability practices.
“11% of consumers consider environmentally friendly practices to be in the top three factors influencing their choice to stay in a hotel. Prior to the pandemic, only 5% prioritized this,” according to the report. The AHLA is optimistic about the hospitality industry in 2023 for hotels that pay attention to the above factors.
“With a continued focus on the right cleaning practices, paired with increased flexibility and the right loyalty programs, hotels can expect to meet consumers’ top concerns and needs when choosing and staying in a hotel,” says the report.
To learn more findings from the report, visit the AHLA 2023 State of the Hotel Industry Report.


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Feb 4, 2015 For prison officials, blocking inmates' cellphone use is a top priority.
Nov 21, 2014 Schools are gathering data on kids, and as student databases grow, so does the ability of technology to predict how or what a kid might do next.
Nov 20, 2014 In a culture shift, new apps and sites help users protect and erase private data.
Nov 19, 2014 Why don’t aggregators compare prices of retail items like clothing? Because neither retailers nor shoppers really want them to.
Nov 21, 2014 Marketplace teamed up with Northeastern University to survey the next generation of college students.
Nov 14, 2014 Auto makers issue privacy standards for the data that cars collect.
Nov 11, 2014 There are large areas of the country where you still can't get a cell phone signal.
Dec 5, 2014 The average monthly cellphone bill has dropped from an inflation-adjusted $151 in 1989 to $47 today.
Oct 17, 2014 The UN's trust fund to fight Ebola has only raised $100,000. Let's do the numbers.
Oct 14, 2014 The woman who's credited for BuzzFeed's data-driven growth spills her guts.


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The last few years have seen major shifts in the retail landscape, such as the rise of ecommerce, and ever-growing demands for personalisation, omnichannel fulfilment and faster delivery options. AutoStore Australia and New Zealand outlines the key trends to watch in 2024.
Retailers are working hard to stay ahead of the curve as consumer preferences continue to evolve, explains AutoStore Australia and New Zealand business development manager Jason Wu.
“The retailers who get ahead of the pack are those who invest in the innovation of their warehouses and fulfilment processes,” said Wu.
The online retail environment unpacked
IAB Australia’s latest Australian eCommerce report revealed that between June 2022 and June 2023, Australians spent $53.29 billion on online retail.
“While this is 5 per cent less than shoppers spent in the previous year, it still accounts for almost 13% of the total estimated retail trade,” said Wu.
Commenting on the decline in spend, Wu adds that shoppers are spending more cautiously because of high interest rates, rising inflation and rising living costs.
“However, the same IAB Australia report finds that 32 per cent of local shoppers have increased their use of online shopping, perhaps because online shopping platforms enable them to research products and pricing. In addition, online shopping habits have remained steady over the last two years with 50 per cent of online shoppers continuing to buy groceries and 73 per cent buying non-grocery retail items, at least once a month,” said Wu.
Wu said the major driver for online shopping was still convenience.
“Shoppers are prepared to pay more for a retail offering that helps them manage their costs, adds value and makes their lives easier. This means retailers have to prioritise hassle-free shopping and faster fulfilment, at lower costs,” said Wu.
Retail trends to watch as 2024 approaches
Wu outlines five key trends that retailers should adopt to stay ahead of the curve in 2024:
1. Warehouse optimisation, digitalisation and automation
The integration of digital technology and automation (including robotics, AI and machine learning tools) with space-optimising vertical or cube storage systems, enables retailers to streamline their warehouse processes. “Through automation, retailers can also reduce their labour costs and their energy consumption – a saving that can be passed to customers,” adds Wu.
2. Enhanced shopping experience
Think personalised shopping, AI-assisted 3D shopping, price comparisons, discounts and more choice. “To deliver these benefits to customers, retailers will rely heavily on the integration of digital platforms and automation with their warehouse management systems,” notes Wu.
3. Omnichannel fulfilment
The seamless integration of physical retail stores with digital platforms enables retailers to create a consistent retail experience.
“Having an automated warehouse management system, which accurately tracks stock levels and caters to click-and-collect shopping, is highly beneficial in the omnichannel environment,” said Wu.
4. Same day delivery
Shoppers are demanding the convenience of rapid fulfilment, driving the Direct To Customer (DTC) trend.
“Retailers are seeking out warehouses closer to customers, and optimising them with vertical storage systems and automation, to allow for faster, more cost-efficient delivery,” said Wu.
5. Return logistics
The influx of returns is an inevitable side-effect of the growth of eCommerce, and it’s one that threatens to take a bite out of retailer profits.
“Businesses will look to analytics and technology tools that will help them understand why customers return products, with a view to reducing the volume of returns.
“Having an automated warehouse system in place, which can handle returns accurately and efficiently, is essential,” said Wu.
An ASRS solution
Wu recommends an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) that can enable order fulfilment times of less than a minute from order to shipping. Autostore’s ASRS Grid is modular and can be customised to meet the layout of a customer’s floorplan, enabling 90 per cent of warehouse space utilisation.
“The flexibility and scalability of the AutoStore systems offer a streamlined fulfilment process, fast delivery and reliability, and employees, likewise, can benefit from enhanced working conditions,” said Wu.


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Tribal Wars Hits iPad
InnoGames just released a new iPad app for the classic strategy game, Tribal Wars. With the new app, players can log into the same account on all iOS devices – browser, iPhone and iPad, making Tribal Wars InnoGames’ first truly cross platform game.
Several game features have been optimized from the recent iPhone app – including the report and mail screen. In addition, the number of buttons on the main screen has been raised in order to ensure faster navigation. New to the Tribal Wars iOS apps is pre-registration for worlds that haven’t started yet. This allows players to get an early jump on plans for domination, and create a tribe with friends at the start of a new world.
The tablet app is compatible with both iPad and iPad Mini. The first iOS version of the game was launched at the end of 2011, placing in many iTunes Top 10 lists. The current version can be found at: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/die-stamme/id435365767?mt=8
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As hard as it might be to believe, this past Friday made it two weeks since Samsung officially launched the Galaxy S20. That means it's been two weeks of people getting familiar with the phone, learning all of its new features, and seeing how it holds up during daily use.
Some folks recently started talking about their experience with the S20 so far, saying:
Now, we want to hear from you! Two weeks later, how's the Galaxy S20 holding up?
Just asskissing the crap out of Samsung. Meanwhile there's still no V60 forum. Can't be that hard to create it.
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With Nearby Friends, your location history is private to you and only you -- until the social network decides otherwise. Surprised? Don't be. Facebook is in the advertising business.
While much of the world is just getting its hands on the LG G3, Korea may already be advertising a refreshed model.
A patent describes technology that monitors your location and automatically performs home automation tasks.
The small startup blends data from multiple sources to ensure that information on local businesses, such as location, hours, and services, is always up-to-date.
The feature allows marketers to engage Twitter users talking about specific programs with Promoted Tweets.
Urban Airship, which powers many notification platforms for apps, wants to make mobile messaging more accurate.
Have you noticed promoted tweets creeping into your timeline? The micro-blogging service now offers a way for advertisers to target promoted tweets based on location.
A new app for reminders gives Apple's included Reminders app a run for its money with location-based reminders and a clean interface.
The messaging app could soon offer a service for paid videos, news articles, and other items, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Samsung officially drops Android from its second-generation smartwatch in order to pursue its own Tizen OS.


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is launching an aggressive nationwide campaign to promote QR code
as the dominant form of acceptance of payments using either unified payments interface
) or debit cards at zero cost. The move comes in the wake of the government decision to subsidise the charges on debit card payments that are usually borne by small merchants and is reminiscent of Paytm’s post-demonetisation campaign to acquire merchants for e-wallet payments.
Paytm COO Kiran Vasireddy said, “We have been working for several months to see how we can enable all payment instruments in one QR code. Going forward, we expect most merchants to accept payments directly into their bank accounts.”
The government decision on subsidising merchant discount rate (MDR, or the charges paid by shops on card payments) has provided the payments company an opportunity to replicate Alipay’s success in China of making QR codes the dominant mode of retail payments.
Paytm currently has 55 lakh shops accepting payments from its e-wallet. The company has budgeted Rs 500 crore to promote UPI payments among merchants and is deploying a team of 10,000 sales agents to tell shops about the advantages of UPI, which include zero charges and no monthly limits on the amount that can be accepted.
“From a transaction perspective, nothing much changes. While the user scans the same QR code, she will now get two-three options (e-wallet, account and debit card) and can choose the payment instrument. It does not add to the number of steps as the same screen will have multiple options,” said Vasireddy.
According to Vasireddy, Paytm plans to enrol 1 crore shops by April. He added that while technically a credit card can be added as a payment option within the app, the transaction costs were high. “Our UPI payments are growing very strong and very soon we will topple Tez in terms of number of transactions.” Tez is Google’s UPI application which currently dominates the UPI space.


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Ordering lunch just got a lot more complicated than deciding, "Do you want fries with that?" All of a sudden, biting into a fried chicken sandwich has become a political and economic statement.
The Chick-fil-A fast-food chain is standing firm in its opposition to gay marriage since company President Dan Cathy said the company “backs the traditional family unit.” Gay rights groups have called for a boycott of the chain and politicians in Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C. told the company that they intend to use zoning laws and local regulations to let Chick-fil-A executives know that it’s not welcome in their locales. The current campaign may well turn out to be a bridge too far and evolve into a horrible setback for homosexual activism.
Nowadays, the type of fast-food bag you carry can put you on one side, or the other of this hot-button social issue. Since President Barack Obama threw Black values and emphasis under the same bus as he did the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, “Gay” has been allowed to become the civil rights issue of our time. The vile attacks on Chick-fil-A and its owners should make clear that the "gay rights" movement is not about refining and advancing American freedom, but about rewriting American values and advancing, not freedom, but the homosexual political agenda.
This type of social activism is a straight menace to Black values and American free enterprise. Some proponents of same-sex marriage want to boycott Chick-fil-A and disrupt the chain’s 1,615 locations and $4.1 billion annual revenue stream. Chick-fil-A is in 39 states and Washington, D.C. In July, the company’s 59-year-old president was asked by a Southern Baptist Convention news service, whether he opposed gay marriage, to which he responded: “Guilty as charged. We are supportive of the biblical definition of the family unit,” he said. Cathy emphasized that “the biblical definition of a family unit doesn’t include Adam and Steve.”
"Eat mor chikin" is the chain’s prominent advertising slogan. Chick-fil-A [referring to "filet"] specializes in chicken entrées and has long been associated with the Southern United States, where it is a cultural icon. It all started in 1946, when Samuel Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant, The Dwarf Grill, in Hapeville, Ga. Credited with inventing Chick-fil-A’s boneless breast of chicken sandwich, Mr. Cathy founded Chick-fil-A, Inc. in the early 1960s and pioneered establishment of restaurants in shopping malls with the opening of the first Chick-fil-A Restaurant at a mall in suburban Atlanta in 1967. Since then, Chick-fil-A has steadily grown to become the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the U.S. The business is family-owned and has become a multi-billion dollar operation. With 44 consecutive years of positive sales growth, the company is known for being methodical about opening new restaurants, but opening them with fanfare, including giving the first 100 customers free chicken sandwiches for a year.
Dan Cathy has been the Chick-fil-A chief executive since 2001. On August 1, at Chick-fil-A locations across the country, people voted with their wallets by coming out on Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day to express support for the chain and to Cathy for his stance on “traditional marriage.”
Blacks should be aware that the gay movement has eclipsed them in political potency. Politicians are swooning to take up gay causes. Sources inside the Democratic National Committee have confirmed that the party will include gay marriage as part of its platform. It will be the first time in history that either the Democratic or Republican Party has supported anything other than the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
We find no reason to be mad at Cathy and his traditional values. But, beware gay is not the new Black, and we are foolish to allow conflation of the two issues. Sexual disposition does not parallel race. And it’s difficult to watch a coordinated, well-funded, well-connected propaganda strategy undermine thousands of years of history. It’s especially disconcerting to watch the use of the civil rights struggle as the vehicle for the strategy.
(William Reed is available for speaking/seminar projects via the Bailey Group.org)
William Reed Columnist


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Program highlighted in last month’s issue donates equipment to keep farm workers safe.
On Aug. 31, Logistics Victory LA (LoVLA), a program managed by the Harbor Dept., donated 75,000 masks to the United Farm Workers of America to keep its member farm workers safe during the pandemic, the wildfires and extreme heat.
LoVLA sources, collects, stores and distributes the millions of pieces of medical equipment and gear desperately needed by area medical centers to fight the virus and keep LA healthy. As we reported, LoVLA shipped its millionth piece of medical gear last month.
“Reaching out and assisting the United Farm Workers, a critical group of workers facing challenging conditions, is directly aligned with our mission to help keep workers stay safe and assist in the re-emergence of our state and nation’s economy,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles and City of Los Angeles’ Chief Logistics Officer. “We’re thankful to CMA CGM, who signed on as an early supporter of LoVLA, as well as the partnership with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.”
Donated by French shipping line CMA CGM, a world leader in shipping and logistics, to the City of Los Angeles through LoVLA, the FFP2 respirator masks—the European equivalent to N95— were first distributed last week and will continue to be given to farm workers this week. Launched at the outset of the pandemic, LoVLA was designed to match both medical and non-medical suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with organizations in critical need of PPE and other supplies.


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Prices for rapeseed are recovering after declining
a Sharp increase in forecast world production of oilseeds in the August USDA report and the depreciation of the Euro against the dollar to the level of 1,133 led to a decline in rapeseed on Euronext to $ 378/t or 428 $/t and a decrease in the price of canola last week in Ukraine to the level of 420 $/MT delivery port.
However, Thursday began the growth of the futures on soybeans in Chicago, two days on news of the resumption on August 21-22 talks between the US and China has risen more than 6%, and traded at 332 $/t
in addition, over the past two days, the Euro strengthened to the level 1,1426 $/Is.
Dry and hot weather in Canada in areas of growing canola increases the risk of decrease in yield for the canola price in Chicago rose 1.5% to CAD 512/t or 392 $/t
These factors led to higher prices for rapeseed in Paris to 383,75/t or 438,5 $/t, which corresponds to the price level before the report was released.
the price of rapeseed in Ukraine increased at the end of the week by 3-5 $/t and reached the level 423-425 $/t or 13550-13650 UAH/t with delivery to the port. The processors finish to buy raps and proceed to the purchase of sunflower, so the main direction of sales of canola will only export, and the approach of the supply of corn will decrease the number of ports and traders who will buy and export canola, resulting in the demand for it will decrease.


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The much publicized death of actor Anton Yelchin has prompted the accelerated recall of over 1 million vehicles including the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2014 Grand Cherokee as well as the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured in 2012 through 2014.
The issue of the safety defect, is apparently being resolved by a software update, which is being provided to the thousands of dealers throughout the US. According to Manufacturing.net:
The recalled vehicles have an electronic shift lever that toggles forward or backward to let the driver select the gear instead of moving along a track with notches for each gear like a conventional shifter. A light shows which gear is selected, but to get from drive to park, drivers must push the lever forward three times. If a vehicle is in drive and the lever is pressed just once, it goes into neutral and could roll if on a slope.
Dealers will be able to load the software into the vehicles, and it will automatically shift the cars into park if the driver’s door opens while the engine is running. The software will repair vehicles with 3.6-liter and 5.7-liter engines, which account for the bulk of those being recalled. FCA said software availability for the rest of the vehicles is “imminent.”


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NBN Co is changing up its connectivity virtual circuit (CVC) pricing model so internet service providers (ISPs) will be charged a lower CVC price as their customer base grows. What does this mean for consumers? Let’s find out.
One of the biggest gripes for ISPs when they offer National Broadband Network (NBN) services is the CVC price; that is, the money NBN Co charges for the amount of bandwidth used by the ISPs’ customers. They’ve been extremely vocal about it for years since the way it’s calculated disincentivises them from offering higher speed plans.
Last year, NBN Co changed to a dimension-based pricing model that calculated CVC charges based the average bandwidth ISPs make available to all end-users as whole. The CVC drop from $17.50 to $15.75 per Mbps by December 2016.
However, ISPs continued to be dissatisfied with the price and smaller ISPs were still baulking at the costs because it was getting dragged up by bigger competitors. Don’t forget that on top of CVC charges, ISPs still have to fork out money for the access virtual circuit cost for every connection they have on the NBN.
Now NBN Co has announced it will be moving to a new discount model that calculates the CVC price based on average bandwidth individual ISPs divide up with its customers.
According to NBN Co, this change automatically scale to reduce the CVC price for ISPs when their user numbers increase.
NBN Co chief customer officer John Simon said the changes will mean greater price certainty for ISPs: “It will also provide further scope for [ISPs] to differentiate their offerings, which will in turn promote competition and assist consumers in accessing a wider choice of broadband plans.”
This hints at NBN CEO Bill Morrow’s claim that Australians currently have no need for 1Gbps NBN services, pointing to the fact that the majority of customers are opting for lower speed plans. A number of ISPs have said CVC pricing was a major hurdle in allowing them to make higher speed plans available in the first place.
While NBN Co claims the new discount model will help give ISPs more flexibility in offering different speed plans, Internet Australia said it could have a negative effect on smaller operators.
“The idea was that we’d see a wide range of small to medium sized retailers, mostly existing ISP’s, able to better compete with the larger operators. This new pricing scheme could have the exact opposite effect” Internet Australia executive chair Anne Hurley said. “The concern we have is that we will see the bigger operators on better rates than their smaller competitors.
“In the end this could just reinforce the market dominance of the existing large players”
NBN Co has shot down this claim. An NBN Co spokesperson pointed out that the new CVC model is not a volume-based discount:
The price is calculated by dividing capacity by the number of customers a particular retailer has. That means the same discounts apply whether you’re a small or a large retailer.
Ultimately, the new model enables greater flexibility for retailers to differentiate themselves and their proposition in the market.
Whether or not this will result in cheaper NBN plans overall remains to be seen.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/01/nbn-changed-the-names-for-its-tiered-plans/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/08/Ethernet-410×231.jpg” title=”NBN’s New Speed Names Explained” excerpt=”We’ve known the National Broadband Network (NBN) plans to be structured around five “tiers” of connectivity based on download and upload speeds offered by NBNco. It appears the company has renamed the plans and taken one of the tiers out. Here’s what you need to know.”]
The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans
Here are the cheapest plans available for Australia’s most popular NBN speed tier.


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Tag - Asha
Nokia has used its Nokia World event to extend the Asha device range by three new models. The Asha 500, Asha 502, and Asha 503 follow the Asha 501 in offering entry-level smartphone features using the Asha software platform instead of Windows Phone, as favored by the Lumia devices launched at the same time.
Nokia will commence sales of its budget smartphone in emerging markets later this week. The Asha 501, with the new Asha software platform and a choice of either a normal home screen or the usage-logging Fastlane system, will go on sale in Pakistan and Thailand initially, with India and other locations to follow in the coming weeks.
Nokia will be allowing users of the Asha range of smartphones to use its free music streaming service for the first time. Previously only usable by Lumia Windows Phone devices, the Nokia Music with Mix Radio service will be available on Asha touch devices in the coming weeks, and will initially roll out in Russia before heading into other markets.
Nokia has updated its Asha range of devices with an entry-level touchscreen smartphone at a media event earlier today. The Asha 501, leaked yesterday, houses a three-inch 320x240 touchscreen in a case not too dissimilar from the Asha 210 QWERTY smartphone shown last month, along with a new mobile operating system.
A Nokia smartphone being revealed in New Delhi tomorrow has allegedly been uncovered in a leak earlier than the manufacturer intended. A photograph showing a stack of phones, claimed to be the Asha 501, with the range of device casings matching the "add some color" statement made on an official Nokia blog post for the event.
Nokia has updated its instant-messaging service for Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8-based Lumias and Asha smartphones. Previously used on Symbian and Series 40 devices before being replaced by Ovi services, Nokia Chat refreshes the app with a modern interface, along with a number of other social aspects as seen in other messaging systems.
Nokia is making an announcement for one or more new mobile phones on the 24th of April, according to a company blog post. The timing of the announcement, set at 7am Greenwich Mean Time, suggests it will be for a device destined for release primarily in Europe and Asia, with the accompanying image giving a few clues as to what it could be for.
Nokia has announced a new addition to its line of Series 40 phones. The Asha 310 follows on from the Asha 308 and Asha 309 in being a budget-oriented smartphone, and is the first Asha handset to have Nokia's Easy Swap Dual SIM support, a feature which allows the user to assign unique profiles for up to five SIM cards.
Confirming recent leaks, Nokia has unveiled two new devices in its budget-priced Asha lineup. The Asha 308 and 309 are Nokia's most affordable touchscreen smartphones, pairing entry-level features with an unsubsidized retail price below $100 USD.
Nokia may launch as many as two new handsets in its Asha line of smartphones as early as tomorrow. The images showed up in a forum post on Baidu, and they appear to show two distinct models in the Asha style. The source that leaked the images claims that the Finnish phone maker will be launching the devices in the very near future, as early as tomorrow.
Now AAPL Stock: 99.62 ( + 1.72 )
Parallels Access 3.1 updated for iPad Pro
Virtualization software Parallels Access 3.1 has been updated with support for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, including Apple Pencil support. The software allows remote access to your PC or Mac from anywhere to control desktop applications from iOS or Android tablets and phones, with native touch gestures, as well as from any computer with an HTML5 web browser. Featuring three resolution choices for your mobile device ("Best for your Device," "More Space," and "Same as Computer") and 3D Touch support for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the update also adds a new Tablet Mode in Windows 10, which makes it easier to interact without a mouse or keyboard. http://bit.ly/1OWZqjg
Hyundai brings CarPlay to more 2016 models
Along with its previously-announced support for adding CarPlay technology to the 2016 Sonata, 2017 Elantra, and 2017 Ioniq, a leaked memo to dealers has revealed that CarPlay-supporting software updates will be available today that bring the infortainment tech to the 2015 and 2016 non-hybrid Sonata models, the 2016 hybrid Sonata, the 2015 and 2016 Genesis Sedan, the 2016 Tucson, the 2017 Santa Fe, and the 2017 Ioniq. Owners can upgrade the system themselves by visiting the Hyundai website, and will need a Mac or PC with either an SD card slot or SD card reader to transfer the update to the vehicle. http://bit.ly/1YZqkqS
Google Paris HQ raided by investigators
Google's Paris headquarters has been raided by dozens of French police. The Tuesday raid was part of an ongoing investigation into possible tax-avoidance practices, stoked by widespread dissatisfaction with the way multinationals like Google are structuring their business operations. Although trading in many countries around the globe, Google reports its international sales only in tax-friendly Ireland, similar to a practice adopted by Apple. According to French law, if it completes any of its sales contracts in France and not Ireland alone, it could be in breach of its laws. Google, for its part, denies any wrongdoing, and said that it is fully compliant with French law. http://reut.rs/1Udk2T9
Apple TV extends universal search to NBC
Apple has extended its universal search function on the Apple TV to now include NBC shows in its results, provided the user has installed the NBC tvOS app. The search results can be generated either through Siri, or through the Search app, and includes support for searches by title, genre, and actor, among other queries. NBC joins CBS, more recently, among other channels including: Disney Channel; Disney Jr; Disney XD; FOXNOW; FXNOW; HBO GO; HBO NOW; Hulu; Nat Geo TV; Netflix; PBS; PBS Kids; SHOWTIME; SHOWTIME Anytime; Starz, and Watch ABC, all of which are supported by universal search. http://apple.co/25lGi5R
Comixology fires up $6 all-you-can-read service
Amazon-owned Comixology has launched an all-you-can-read comic subscription service. After a 30-day free trial, for $6 a month, subscribers can draw from a large selection of the Comixology library, minus Marvel and DC comics. For now, the service is US-only. http://bit.ly/1WMAOft
QuarkXPress 2016 now shipping
Quark is now shipping QuarkXPress 2016, the newest version of Quark's graphic design and desktop publishing software that now features near-WYSIWYG fixe HTML5 publishing as well as improved operability with InDesign and Illustrator and support for multi-Color Gradient Blends, OpenType Stylistic Sets, a Color Picker (Eyedropper tool), Touchpads for Pinch and Zoom (Mac only) and more. Users on any previous version of QuarkXPress (versions 3-10) can upgrade to version 2016 for $350, while QuarkXPress 2015 users can upgrade to 2016 for $180; new licenses are available for $850 (education licenses are available for $90). http://bit.ly/1OL23Pu
Kanex debuts GoPower USB-C for MacBooks
Kanex today introduced its GoPower USB-C, a portable power solution designed to charge a USB-C MacBook on the go along with an iPhone or iPad simultaneously. Featuring 15,000 mAh of power--capable of charging an iPhone 6s seven times or the USB-C MacBook one full time--the GoPower USB-C Portable Battery features one 3A USB-C port and one 2.4A port for other devices, priority charging detection technology and a pass-thru charging to your devices when the battery is plugged into a power source. http://bit.ly/1TKaf8z


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Two days before the Rangers International AGM the Daily Record has turned the spotlight on a small matter that could wipe out Micky Beale’s transfer war-chest.
Last February a deal was struck with Sports Direct for £8.5, plus legal costs over a long running dispute over how Mike Ashley’s firm were replaced as the club’s retail partner. Effectively the Nathan Patterson windfall and more went to the former Newcastle owner.
Detail of the settlement has yet to surface, it could be too early to say that Sports Direct have been removed, Ashley’s firm are the high street outlet to but top quality Castore Sports kit.
Dave King’s spell as chairman saw constant legal battles and disputes, other than with Carlos Pena it seems that the Ibrox outfit came out second best every time.
Looking towards the AGM the Record highlights:
Rangers haven’t been strangers to a court battle in the last 12 months. It all started with that lengthy, messy battle with the SPFL over their refusal to display branding with league sponsor and online car dealer cinch due to a conflict with the club’s own deal with chairman Douglas Park’s motor group. It was a battle they eventually won as they were vindicated over their stance having said cited a rule in the SPFL rulebook that they didn’t have to oblige to a sponsorship contract “if to do so would result in that club being in breach of a contractual obligation entered into prior to the commercial contract concerned.”
But having won that, they now find themselves at the centre of two more battles. Elite Sports Ltd, who have since gone into administration, are the exclusive brand partner of Hummel sportswear, and are claiming breach of contract following the collapse of that agreement. And the second dispute is over Gers withdrawal from the Sydney Super Cup – the decision to take part alongside rivals Celtic in the first place will almost certainly come up – which led to fan protests. The club face a combined £11.1 million payout.
The Elite and Sydney Super Cup stories surfaced after the 2022 accounts were published showing a £900,000 loss for the year. Most businesses would have a fund set aside in case those cases come to fruition.
The Memorial Wall and WiFi disputes remain unresolved.
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In 2019, the RT will lead Chinese printing consumables companies to the potential market in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In addition to hosting the 13th China (Zhuhai) International Printing Consumables Exhibition, a global cross-border comprehensive “big office” platform, since 2014, the Regeneration era has participated in the India Recharger Expo for five consecutive years, and has been deeply involved in the Indian market.
Proffisy will participate in the India Printing Supplies Expo.
According to IDC's latest statistics, in the third quarter of 2018, India's HCP market shipments were approximately 1.1 million units, a substantial increase of 25.6% from the previous quarter and a slight decrease of 1.7% compared with the same period last year, mainly due to the implementation of the laser after the implementation of the GST policy last year. The strong demand for printers.
Inkjet printer shipments increased by 5.5% year-on-year, accounting for 55.3% of the entire Indian HCP market, a record high. The increase in shipments of inkjet printers was mainly due to ink cartridge printers, and its shipments increased by 12.9% year-on-year. Laser printer shipments declined year-on-year, but the local government restricted the renovation of copiers, and the laser copier market grew 37.5% year-on-year.
Under the influence of the good performance of the HCP market, the Indian printing consumables market is worth looking forward to in 2019! David Gibbons, Director of Regeneration Times, said: “India is a major growth point for the printing consumables market in the Asia Pacific region, and we are happy to lead Chinese brands into the local market.”
Indian Recharger Expo, the annual event for the printing consumables industry in India, will be held in Mumbai, India on March 7-9, 2019. You may wish to experience the local market on the spot.
Proffisy will conduct investment Agent promotion activities at the show to lead local distributors in India for online and offline marketing.
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Global rental company Hertz announced on April 4 that it will purchase as many as 65,000 electric vehicles from Swedish manufacturer Polestar over the next five years. This follows Hertz’s announcement last year that it was ordering 100,000 Teslas for delivery in 2022 in a push to electrify its fleet.
While the Tesla announcement was initially lauded and it pushed Tesla’s market cap to over $1 trillion for the first time, the situation got complicated when Tesla CEO and now new Twitter board member Elon Musk weighed in, declaring on Twitter that “No contract has yet been signed.” Hertz, it seems, is having to buy the cars at retail, rather than with any preferential treatment.
It’s noteworthy, then, that the recent Hertz-Polestar deal was announced on the Polestar website. And the Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, declared, “We are delighted that Hertz has chosen Polestar as a strategic partner on their road to electrification.” Ingenlath, it seems, won’t be undermining anything on Twitter.
Even without the Musk factor, it’s been a tricky few years for Hertz. The pandemic-induced collapse of the rental car market (and its own massive amounts of debt) pushed it to file for bankruptcy in May, 2020. After an investment of more than $5.9 billion from a couple of private equity groups, the 104-year-old company is back in business, and seemingly keen to modernize its fleet of roughly half-a-million cars around the world.
That electrification effort is going to take time. Hertz says it has been “actively receiving” Tesla Model 3s since January this year and the pricier SUV-styled Tesla Model Ys since March. Right now, you can rent a Tesla from seven airports in the US: Washington Dulles, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta. (Though it’s worth mentioning, a random check of dates this summer revealed that they were sold out.)
From Polestar, Hertz has ordered the Polestar 2, the car most similar in price and specs to Tesla’s Model 3 and Y. The first of them are expected to be available to rent in Europe in spring 2022. They’ll come to North America and Australia later this year.
One big barrier to Hertz’s electrification plans is that EV production volumes are low, partly from pandemic and supply chain issues, and partly because they’re an incredibly complicated product to manufacture.
Meanwhile, in the first three months of this year, Tesla produced just over 305,000 vehicles. That’s up from 180,000 for the same period last year, and the company is continuing to ramp up production. Its fourth Gigafactory and first one in Europe opened just last month. But Tesla is struggling to meet its existing demand from regular customers, let alone huge blocks of corporate orders.
Polestars’ production capacity is significantly lower. It sold a total of 29,000 vehicles worldwide in 2021. It’s hoping to double that this year, and increase it to 290,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2025, but there’s an obvious reason that Hertz’s order will be fulfilled over five years—Polestar can’t produce the cars any faster.
Unless Hertz can get as-yet-unannounced preferential treatment from Tesla, or Polestar can dramatically increase its volumes, adding more electric vehicles—and replacing the vehicles that age out of its rental over the coming years—is going to be a timely process, especially if other rental companies start ordering EVs for their fleets.
As well as getting its hands on EVs, Hertz also has to build out its network of chargers if its electrification plan is going to succeed. It’s announced that it intends to install 3,000 chargers in 65 locations by the end of 2022, and add a further 4,000 in 2023. For anyone hoping to rent an EV on vacation or a business trip, this charging network is probably going to be very helpful. Most people who own a Tesla are able to charge it overnight at home, which won’t always be the case for people with rental cars. Right now, if you rent a Tesla from Hertz you get access to the Supercharger network, but you’re still at the mercy of whatever plugs your hotel or host has available at your destination.
However, the US is in the early stages of building a network of chargers along highways, and other charging solutions are popping up too, such as a recent deal between Starbucks, Volvo, and ChargePoint to install stations at some of those coffee shops between Colorado and Washington.
So even if Hertz still faces a battery of challenges, its push towards electrification is another sign of how fast EVs are now taking off.


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Public Holidays in Barbados for 2019
Barbados is known as a tourist vacation island and business operating in Barbados is no different than that of any other famous tourist holiday spots. Foreign businesses are advised to get to know the local customs and the public holidays to avoid surprises if employees do not come to work. Business owners are encouraged to participate in the festivities, and it is one of the best ways to get accustomed to the locals.
The following are public holiday dates in Barbados for 2019. These dates will change according to the official announcement.
Dates of the Barbados Public Holiday 2019
|1 Jan||Tue||New Year’s Day|
|21 Jan||Mon||Errol Barrow Day|
|19 Apr||Fri||Good Friday|
|22 Apr||Mon||Easter Monday|
|28 Apr||Sun||National Heroes Day|
|29 Apr||Mon||National Heroes Day Holiday|
|1 May||Wed||May Day|
|10 Jun||Mon||Whit Monday|
|1 Aug||Thu||Emancipation Day|
|5 Aug||Mon||Kadooment Day|
|30 Nov||Sat||Independence Day|
|25 Dec||Wed||Christmas Day|
|26 Dec||Thu||Boxing Day|
Click here for more information from www.gov.bb original release which Government of Barbados has published.
Whenever an official public holiday date falls on a Sunday, it will be carried forward to the following Monday. Hence, Bajans look forward to extended holidays, a time to get together, party or unwind and recharge.
Working on a Holiday
Barbados is known for its beautiful beaches and diving spots. Hence, tourism is among the contributors to the country’s economy. That said, businesses that are directly or indirectly related to tourism would have to remain open even during public holidays. By Barbados law, if an employee is required to work during a public holiday, the employer is expected to increase the annual paid leave by one day in respect of the holiday and the employee should receive an average pay in respect of that additional day.
Doing Business in Barbados
Barbados, an independent island country and a Commonwealth realm, is an exciting yet pristine country to live, play and do business in. Its economy is the most stable among other Caribbean nations with a high gross domestic product per capita and has a moderately high standard of living. The Government of Barbados encourages foreign investors to invest and develop Barbados into becoming a developed nation. Hence, business owners planning to set up business in Barbados can look up business in Barbados is the right choice before diving in.


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> View all partners
In honor of the launch of “Home,” glassybaby is joining Conservation International to support the orphans of the ivory trade. 10% of sales of every new 'home’ glassybaby will go to CI’s support of the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. This new project, near the Namunyak Nature Preserve in Northern Kenya, provides shelter and support for orphaned young elephants.
For the month of December, 10% of all online sales at glassybaby.com will go to support CI’s work!
About the Partnership
Since 2005, glassybaby — maker of one-of-a-kind, hand-blown, glass votives and drinking glasses— has supported CI’s global conservation efforts through its unique giving program.
The company was founded by a three-time cancer survivor who made it the glassybaby mission to donate money from sales to charities dedicated to healing and quality of life. To date, glassybaby has donated more than US$400,000 to CI.
In 2014, glassybaby introduced the “nature is speaking” collection designed exclusively in support of CI’s Nature Is Speaking campaign and featuring etched representations of each character.
glassybaby and the glassybaby white light fund have also hosted a number of CI events and provided glassybaby products free of charge as centerpieces for CI’s events to help reduce expenditures. For more information, please visit glassybabywhitelightfund.org.


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In today’s fast-paced world, owning a car has become more than just a convenience; it’s a necessity. However, as we steer into 2023, the annual cost of owning a new car is shifting into overdrive, exceeding an average car payment price of $12,000.
How the Average Car Payment Price is Impacting You
A recent report published by Money.Com, in August 30, 2023, AAA has unveiled that the average monthly cost of owning and operating a new vehicle has surged from $894 in 2022 to a staggering $1,015 in 2023. That’s a hefty increase of $1,454 over the course of a year. While new car prices seem to be stabilizing, the damage from the past year’s fluctuations is far from undone. The average car payment price transaction for a new car now looms over $48,000, a noticeable jump from the $46,400 at the dawn of 2022. Let’s dive into the details of this financial shift and how it affects your wallet.
The gears of financial strain have been shifting rapidly in the automotive industry. As the calendar turned from 2022 to 2023, ownership costs experienced a turbocharged surge. Vehicle prices, car insurance premiums, and auto loan rates have all contributed to this uphill battle. Annual vehicle depreciation, a major component of car ownership, has skyrocketed by an average car payment price of $882, leaping from an average of $3,656 last year to a daunting $4,538 this year.
Finance charges, another critical factor in car expenses, nearly doubled, racing from $658 per year in 2022 to $1,253 in 2023, primarily due to the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes. These rate adjustments aimed at taming inflation have pushed auto loan interest rates to their highest levels since 2007. Simultaneously, the inflation dragon, though cooling down, has left its fiery mark on average car payment prices and insurance prices, with premiums surging by $177, rising from $1,588 in 2022 to $1,765 in 2023.
The Bottom Line: Buckle Up for the True Cost of Car Ownership
In a recent data released by The Verge, while gas prices have had their ups and downs in recent years, they remain a significant contributor to the overall cost of car ownership. Although gas is currently more affordable in 2023, at an average of $3.83 per gallon, it still closely mirrors the prices from the same time last year.
For example, consider full-size pickup trucks, which now demand over $15,000 annually to own and operate, equating to more than $1 per mile. These figures from AAA’s research serve as a stark reminder that when budgeting for a new vehicle, the total cost of car ownership extends far beyond just the monthly average car payment price.
It’s essential to take into account all the gears in the financial machinery of car ownership, from depreciation to insurance, as they all contribute to the true average car payment price.


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LG reports record profit in Q1 but phone division keeps struggling
LG Electronics posted its Q1 financial results, noting consolidated sales of KRW15.12 trillion ($14.1 billion) and operating profit of KRW1.11 trillion ($1.03 billion). This is a result of 3.2% sales rise and 20% income jump, marking the highest Q1 profit ever and the highest quarterly profit since the summer of 2009.LG G7 ThinQ
The overall picture might be looking good for LG, but the Mobile Communications division is still in the red for the staggering 11th quarter in a row. Sales of phones were about KRW2.16 trillion (or $2 billion). Last year the Q1 report saw $176,000 in operating loss, but now it sank to nearly $126 million, and the company says the reason behind that is the revised smartphone launching strategy. Between January and March LG managed to ship just 11.4 million phones.
Even though the picture might look black, the Koreans managed to narrow losses by “improving cost structure through quality costs and modular design activities”. The forecast for the next quarter is that the intense competition will continue because of Chinese companies. LG will most likely raise its sales numbers by flagship model LG G7 ThinQ bound to arrive next week.


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NEW DELHI — Could a 1 percent excise duty make so much difference?
Indian jewelry manufacturers and retailers gave up business worth more than 200 billion rupees, or $3.72 billion at current exchange, in a 21-day protest against the government’s ruling in March that levied a 1 percent excise tax on branded and unbranded jewelry as a part of the budget for 2012-13.
The protest ended on April 6 after the finance minister promised to take another look at the matter.
While analysts labeled them overly optimistic at assuming that something would really come out of this promise, jewelers lobbied their local politicians and jewelry associations rallied their members at the local and national level.
Bowing to the pressure, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee last week unveiled plans to roll back the excise duty. Now, despite the losses suffered so far, jewelers are lobbying to take a united stand to offer the first 25 percent discount on the fees they charge to make a jewelry piece for a period of 10 days — starting this week.
The matter of the 1 percent excise duty had serious and long-term consequences, according to jewelers.
“We are delighted that the government understood our problems. Had this excise duty not been rolled back, many small and medium jewelers and artisans would have gradually shut down. In the next four to five years, the impact would have been severe,” said Bachhraj Bamalwa, chairman of the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation.
While it still must be determined what will happen to the duties collection between March 16 and May 7, the withdrawal will be effective from March 17. Meanwhile, the government lost out with the 21-day strike as well, having been forced to give up on 7 billion rupees, or $130.2 million, in tax collection in this period.
“This is the right time to encourage the sector and to develop the brands, which after being established in the domestic market can also be exported,” said Rajiv Jain, chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, appreciating the move to roll back the duty, which he said would help the sector to grow.
Total gem and jewelry industry exports were $42.83 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, compared with $42.99 billion in fiscal 2011. The gem and jewelry sector accounted for 14 percent of India’s total merchandise exports in the last financial year.
Gold jewelry has seen an increase of 30 percent in exports, from $12.69 billion in 2010-11 to $16.51 billion in 2011-2012. There was a 17.3 percent decline in the export of cut and polished diamonds, with exports decreasing from $28.21 billion in 2010-11 to $23.32 billion in 2011-12.
Meanwhile, colored gemstones saw growth of 9.1 percent in dollar terms, from $314.20 million in 2010-11 to $342.80 million in 2011-12.


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In a wide-ranging interview with CNBC, Trump also said
disputes over Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies
could be addressed as part of any U.S. trade deal with China.
Trump said if Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend
the G20 meeting, tariffs would go into effect immediately. Trump
has repeatedly said he is getting ready to meet Xi at the Osaka
summit at the end of June, but China has not confirmed it.
Trade talks with China hit an impasse last month after the president
accused Beijing of reneging on provisions of a tentative agreement. The
two countries have since escalated their trade war.
¡°China is going to make a deal because they¡¯re going to have to make a deal,¡± Trump said Monday.
's foreign ministry said on Monday that China
for more trade talks with Washington but has nothing to announce
about a possible meeting.
"If we don't make a deal, you'll see a tariff increase,"
The American president again criticized China for devaluing
its currency to create an unfair advantage in trade that he said
was exacerbated by policies of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
"They devalue their currency - they have for years. It's put
them at a tremendous competitive advantage and we don't have
that advantage because we have a Fed that doesn't lower interest
rates," Trump told CNBC, adding "our FED is very, very
destructive to us."


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A proposal to close or privatize Alabama's state liquor stores is scheduled to be discussed in a public hearing Wednesday in a state Senate committee.
Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is sponsor of the bill, which would phase out the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board's retail operations by Oct. 1, 2016.
That would close about 175 stores and eliminate 600 state jobs.
Orr's bill would leave in place the ABC Board's other functions, including wholesale operations and enforcement of alcohol laws.
Orr said he believes the plan would result in a net gain for the state's stagnant General Fund based on analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Office.
He questions whether the state should be competing with the private sector to sell alcohol.
"Is that really a mission of state government?" Orr asked.
Orr, who chairs the Senate's General Fund committee, has worked on similar proposals the last two years.
Gov. Robert Bentley opposes privatization because he believes it would hurt the ABC Board's efforts to regulate alcohol, Bentley spokeswoman Jennifer Ardis said in an email.
"The governor also believes that increased availability would lead to increased consumption, especially among underage and problem drinkers."
ABC Board Administrator Mac Gipson, a Bentley appointee, said he would like to see a task force appointed to study privatization and other issues affecting the liquor industry.
Gipson said experiences in other states indicate that privatization might not boost revenues and could lead to increased drinking and related problems.
"It just needs to be thought through and vetted," Gipson said.
Orr says Alabama's market is different than other states. He noted that Alabama already has about 550 privately owned liquor stores that buy their products from the ABC Board.
Orr questioned why the ABC Board grants licenses to so many private stores if it is concerned that full privatization would lead to more drinking and alcohol-related problems.
Last year, the ABC Board commissioned a report by Auburn University Montgomery co-written by AUM economics Professor Keivan Deravi, on the economic and social cost of privatizing the liquor market.
The report cited studies that showed lower rates of per capita liquor consumption, alcohol-related traffic deaths and underage drinking in states that controlled their retail markets.
Orr, on the other hand, cites studies from the Virginia Institute for Public Policy and the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives which found no evidence that those problems were more common in states with privatized liquor markets.
Those studies were done in response to privatization proposals in Virginia and Pennsylvania.


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Marks and Spencer has confirmed the opening date for its new store on a Llandudno retail park.
The famous retailer is moving from Mostyn Street to the former Debenhams unit at Parc Llandudno - creating another 50 jobs in the process, taking total job numbers to over 160.
Today the brand confirmed the opening date will be Wednesday March 16 - with the new store then open 8am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday.
This will be good news for the retail park which was hit badly by the pandemic but will leave a large gap on the high street.
M&S said it was the "very first store of its kind in Wales" with a "fresh-market-style Foodhall" and a 119-seat digital café.
* What shops would you like to see in North Wales? Tell us in the comments
The Maelgwn Male Voice Choir and San Sior School Choir will perform at the store opening as well as a harpist from Ysgol y Creuddyn.
Store manager Katie Whelan said: “My team and I are really excited to welcome the local community to our new Llandudno store.
"With a cheese barge, a digital café, and an exciting opening day to look forward to, we feel very lucky to be part of the new development.
"As the first store of its kind in Wales, we also take pride in leading the way to make shopping more enjoyable and convenient."


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The record breaking temperatures over August bank holiday will have got many people out into the garden and, although autumn is only just around the corner, David Coton can suggest these September jobs.
Gardensite.co.uk is very proud to have received the award for 'Best Online Garden Retail Buying Team' on the second day of Glee 2015. Robert Hall, Senior Partner, was at the show when the winner was announced.
For thirty years Glee has been the UK's major annual Garden and Leisure Industry show and is held over three days at the NEC in Birmingham.
As a business we have been represented at the show each year, with our buying team making contact with existing suppliers as well as seeking out new products to sell online.
Since 1999 we have been promoting our website which we branded GardenSite early in 2000. A lot has changed online since those pre-Google times when you had to submit your website manually to the existing search engines that were just growing in importance.
It was therefore very satisfying to get an e-mail from Ali Clarke at i2i Events Group letting us know that we had been nominated for an award in the Best Online Garden Retail Buying Team category.
I didn't think we were going to win for one minute as multi-nationals such as Amazon, QVC and Littlewoods Direct had also been nominated. David and Goliath comes to mind, as GardenSite is still family owned and supported.
To have won is exceptional and I put it down to the buying team's innovative work in bringing our customers such an impressive range of products at great prices.
Gardensite.co.uk was a pioneering site when first created and we have never lost sight of our commitment to sourcing excellent products and providing customer service that is second to none.
Winning this award will only make the buying team more determined to source the excellent and comprehensive range of products that have become synonymous with gardensite.co.uk
To see all the nominations and winners visit the Glee 2015 Buyers Power List winners list.
Although the days are short and the view from our Garden Centre is frosty and overcast, Andy Taylor suggests various jobs that can be done in the garden during the month of January.
Showcasing young musical talent, this year's Winter Concert at Arthur Terry School was an outstanding success and took place against the stunning backdrop of a Christmas Tree donated by GardenSite.
It was quite an honour for GardenSite to be asked to supply the Christmas Tree to Birmingham New Street Station this year, and to celebrate we're offering a Champagne High Tea to the winners of a seasonal selfie competition.
With Storm Caroline reeking havoc many people are likely to be contacting their insurance companies at some time regarding damage caused to sheds, greenhouses, fences and other garden property. Robert Hall explains how GardenSite.co.uk can help with an independent insurance quote and claim.


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Startup Street: This Ride-Hailing Startup Is Now Looking To Deliver Milk
This week on Startup Street, we have a company which is reinventing itself to enter the milk delivery market in India. A group of around 500 restaurants in Bengaluru have accused food delivery biggies such as Zomato and Swiggy of unfair practices in an open (and entertaining) letter. And, a report by LocalCircles that highlighted the key challenges for startups going into 2019. Here’s what went on...
From Baxi Taxi To B-Fresh
Baxi Taxi is reinventing itself—from a company that offers people rides on bikes into a startup which will now deliver milk to households every morning for two hours.
B-Fresh, or Baxi-Fresh, is slated to launch operations in mid-January, Ashutosh Johri, co-founder and chief executive officer of the company, told BloombergQuint. The startup has a fleet of around 800 riders through its tie up with Bajaj Auto and TVS. It will deliver milk and milk products from Mother Dairy distributors in Delhi and National Capital Region. It also tied up with Patanjali for grocery products and Safal for fruits and vegetables, according to its website.
B-Fresh will compete in a different market as other grocery delivery brands such as Big Basket and Grofers keep their own inventories. But the startup isn’t the only one to think of a shop-to-home delivery system. Others such as Dhoodhwala and MilkBasket have already built a network. Moreover, India is still heavily reliant on a large system of local delivery men who supply packaged milk to households.
But what called for this switch?
Founded in 2015, Baxi Taxi started off as a last mile commute startup. It even became profitable on a per-bike basis around July 2018. But the startup realised that the pricing per ride would not allow it to create a sustainable business model, especially with the already crowded ride-hailing market.
“First, we realised that bike taxis were not a feasible full-time employment option for bikers. However, it is important to emphasise that bike taxis still remain a wonderful and stable part-time employment option for bikers,” Johri said. “Second, we also realised that bike taxis work better as road side pickup model than an app-assisted on demand-request model.”
A bike taxi trip could cost Rs 20-25 and was neither sufficient to provide full-time employment, nor provide enough incentive for a biker to go and pick up a customer from a distant location, he said. At the same time they observed that there was no hyper local company in India that was helping local and small-chain retailers for on-demand delivery.
We believe that an asset-light and inventory-light model is the most efficient and most scalable (as is seen with successes of Ola, Uber, Airbnb, Swiggy, Zomato and Deliveroo etc).Ashutosh Johri, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, B-Fresh
Through this model, bike riders will earn around Rs 6,000 a month as extra income for two hours of part time work a day, he said.
The startup also intends to include late evening deliveries using the same part-time bikers, Johri said. They plan to capture more than 1 lakh households in 2019.
B-Fresh bagged Rs 10 crore in funding so far with Hindustan Times as its largest investor among other angel investors like Alok Mittal, Manish Kheterpal and Nitin Singhal.
Restaurants Call Out Swiggy, Zomato For Unfair Practices
More than 500 restaurants across Bengaluru recently lost their patience with online food delivery companies such as Swiggy, Zomato, UberEats and Foodpanda. They wrote an open letter to them and their customers highlighting their woes.
It’s that time of the English calendar year,
When the wind is chilly, and a nip in the air.
When we write to our customers, and aggregators dear,
Asking them for simply one thing: play fair!
That’s how the independent group comprising restaurateurs opened the letter. It then immediately goes on to a timeline on how they reached a state of feeling “squeezed and helpless”.
The letter accuses these platforms of deep discounting, opening in-house kitchens to compete with restaurants on the platform and using data from the restaurants to “cannibalise” their business.
Swiggy and Zomato reportedly denied these accusations.
“What started out as an absolutely great and enabling value add for our market — online food delivery services in India — now seems to have transformed into an attempt at monopolising the market through practices leveraged towards utilising consumer data gathered with our involvement and furthering your own newfound business interests while cannibalising our existing businesses,” the letter said.
The deep discounts only eat into profits without the expanding customer base, the restaurants claimed. “In reality, these customers will simply never come back to us unless we continue discounts.”
The letter called for these platforms to play a fair game, while asking consumers to cut the platforms out as middle men.
The Key Challenges For Startups In 2019
Corruption, bureaucratic inefficiencies and securing loans or funding are seen as the major challenges for startups going into 2019.
Within responses from over 15,000 startups, SMEs and entrepreneurs found 45 percent respondents saying they foresee corruption or bureaucratic inefficiencies as the top challenge in 2019, according to a PTI report based on data by LocalCircles. Around 37 percent said the largest challenge is securing loans and funding, while 18 percent think its business growth.
Angel tax is one area that falls under corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies as it takes the focus of startup entrepreneurs away from building a product or service to responding to tax notices and filing appeals, something that startups can clearly do without.Local Circles Report
The study highlighted that 38 percent of the respondents said they had received at least one notice.
India’s startup ecosystem has been plagued by the issue of angel tax since years. However, the issue has recently been escalated to the Finance Ministry by Minister of Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu.
The government has now set up an expert committee to look into all the taxation issues faced by startups and angel investors.
Also, majority of the respondents said they feel there is an urgent need for the income tax authorities to be educated on startup valuations.


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It’s been more than a month since Intel launched its Centrino 2 platform, which includes CPUs that are faster yet use up less battery. Yet, you’ll probably be surprised that there aren’t that many models out...
October 22nd, 2016
Sharp Z2 and MS1 mark launch of new “Japanese DNA” phones in Singapore
With Asus, Xiaomi and Huawei already in the market, the Sharp Z2 and MS1 won’t have things easy. Much depends on the strength...Read More
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AMD announced the appointment of graphics and parallel compute architect Michael Mantor to AMD Corporate Fellow for his demonstrated leadership in graphics engineering. At AMD, Corporate Fellow is the highest possible level of technical recognition with only four employees currently holding the title. Mantor has made key contributions to a diverse set of AMD graphics products, including those that power the Microsoft Xbox One, Sony PlayStation PS4, and multiple generations of AMD Radeon graphics. As Corporate Fellow, he will lead graphics and compute architecture teams in the development of next generation architectures to be used in PCs, game consoles, virtual reality devices, workstations, and super computers.
"Mike is the most passionate graphics and parallel computing architect I have worked with. His direct impact on more than 10 generations of GPU architectures at AMD is a result of Mike's determination to turn great architectures into products that reach millions of users," said Raja Koduri, senior vice president and chief architect, AMD Radeon Technologies Group. "Mike's unique talents and industry expertise are instrumental to maintaining AMD's industry leading graphics technologies and will be critical to advancing the industry into the immersive computing era."
Mantor is recognized as a key authority and leader in GPU architecture. Since joining ATI in 1999, he has been responsible for developing GPU architectures as well as serving as the chief graphics architect for the AMD solutions powering the latest generation of game consoles. Numerous AMD graphics programs and projects have been completed under Mike's guidance including Microsoft Xbox 360 and Xbox One, AMD's heterogeneous system architecture, and all AMD Radeon products since the introduction of the R100 in 2000. He has made major contributions to the industry and AMD including 45 patents issued to date.
AMD Corporate Fellows are appointed after a rigorous review process that assesses not only specific technical contributions to the company, but involvement in the industry at large, mentoring of others, and improving the long-term strategic position of the company.
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BT has delayed the launch of Project Bluephone, its package to offer fixed-line and mobile communication from the same device, to give handset manufacturers time to adopt the same standards.
The telco said that it now expects to launch the Bluephone service next spring. It had been due by the end of this year.
Alcatel, Ericsson and Motorola are currently working with BT to develop the Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) standards. BT claims the postponed Bluephone launch is to allow manufacturers to adopt UMA.
"This approach has ultimately resulted in the delay of a few months in our Project Bluephone launch but we firmly believe this is in the interests of our customers," said Steven Evans, chief executive of BT Mobile, in a statement.
Bluephone handsets use a Bluetooth wireless access point, either at home or in the office, and from there connect onto the fixed-line network.
If they move out of coverage range, they switch to Vodafone's GSM or 3G network.
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Childrens’ birthday parties are no longer about balloons and lolly bags... Parents are rolling out the red carpet to give their kids an experience they'll never forget.
Mum Michelle Nelson wanted to surprise her daughter Millie with a 10th birthday party like no other.
"It's something that's different, it's not the usual McDonalds or Pizza Hut or going to the movies, it's something a bit out there," says Michelle.
While the stretch limo is usually reserved for formals and weddings, Sean Dunning from Pure Envy says the pink hummer is becoming increasingly popular for kids parties.
"It gives them a grown up option for their birthday,” says Sean.
“It's something they'll remember and being Millies 10th birthday, we wanted to make it a memorable, making double figures, wanted to make it a memorable night,” says Michelle.
And everyone is looking to do something different.
Hair dresser and mum Marcella Lastra saw there was a need for new party ideas.
"All they think about it my mum never lets me do this at home this is my one opportunity to get into this stuff and not get in trouble," says Marcella.
She started the Little Lolita parties six months ago.
"The idea behind it is to do a creative workshop the girls learn skills such as making jewellery, putting make up on, wearing wigs, stepping outside the square a little bit," says Marcella.
Swapping the traditional face paint for make-up.
And the make-up and pampering party has received the thumbs up from parents.
"Isabela at home she'll watch me put my make-up and nail polish on for her it's using her imagination and exploring what she'll be doing in the future."
As for the kids, it seems they are wanting something more grown up.
Mum Caroline Burns loved the cooking party idea.
"I think kids are exposed to a lot more now so they probably are looking for more variety than what we had when we were growing up… the kids have done cooking classes during the holidays when I found they did cooking parties I knew that was exactly what Sophie wanted to do," says Caroline.
Robyn Lee has been hosting the birthday parties for eight months.
"They are very hands on, they are engaged, they get to have a lot of fun they get to do something together," says Robyn.
Including making the party food themselves... Even the cake.


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By RYAN SHERIDAN
Daily Press writer
The Colorado Attorney General's Office will not be investigating the reasons behind higher gasoline prices in Craig as compared to the rest of the state.
Colorado does not have a price gouging law, and high and/or uniform prices do not warrant an investigation. The only way the Attorney General's Office could investigate the prices would be if a witness stepped forward with information about wholesalers or retailers of gasoline coordinating on or communicating about prices.
"There needs to be some evidence of coordinated activity or communication between competitors that's the key trigger," said Maria Berkenkotter, first assistant to the Attorney General. "Generally speaking, investigations aren't commenced because of high prices or uniform prices or both. The best way to begin is with insider testimony, or someone overhearing a conversation.
"To issue subpoenas for an investigation, you need to meet a certain threshold of evidence. A judge would throw the case out in seconds if I just went in with high prices," she said.
The Attorney General's Office began an investigation into a similar situation in Grand Junction in the summer 1999. The lack of concrete evidence of price fixing, plus the factors of transportation costs, wholesaler concentration, and lack of competition ended the investigation.
In conclusion, the report states, "Competition in the gasoline industry is critical to ensuring that Colorado residents have access to the lowest prices for this important commodity."
The report also cites the gradual entry of grocery stores and what it termed "wholesale buyer clubs" into the Grand Junction market as important competitive entities that could drive prices down.
The report stated that these types of new market entrants will likely have a significant impact upon competition among retail gasoline stations to the extent that they continue to expand in this area.
The state of Colorado has no gasoline price-gouging law.
According to Berkenkotter, such a law, depending on its structure, could allow the Attorney General's Office to look into situations like the one in Craig.
"About 30 states have price gouging statutes; most of those states are in the east and southeast," she said. "In about half of those states, a declaration of emergency is needed to trip the laws into effect. In others, it's when there's a spate of prices shooting up.
"How we would use a law like that here would depend on how the statute was drafted where the line is on where high prices become gouging, for example," she said. "I don't know where that line would be drawn.
"I totally understand why people are upset about gas prices, but there's nothing our office can do if there are any antitrust violations without someone coming forward. It seems like a long shot, but you'd be surprised how many people do come to us.
"If anyone has information about price fixing, they should talk to us."
Colorado State Senator Jack Taylor (R-Steamboat Springs) is also concerned with the inconsistencies of gas prices in Northwest Colorado.
Examining the legal aspects of the situation is on his agenda for the coming legislative session.
"I am aware of the problem, both from my traveling and phone calls I've received. Hopefully, this is something that I will have time to look at during this session," Taylor said. "The first thing I will do when I arrive is consult with legal services, and have them research the statutes. I will never be convinced that it costs that much money to bring gas over the mountains.
Residents of recreation communities will pay a premium for gas, and Craig is close to a resort community, but that doesn't completely explain what happens here in terms of gas prices, Taylor said.
"The inconsistency is what I see in the past, Steamboat prices were higher, and now Craig is priced higher. Where is the control? There have also been cases where a particular station lowers their price, and they'll be financially wiped out by the bigger companies. That makes me wonder about the whole thing."


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India, the worldâ€™s biggest producer of cotton has nearly halted cotton exports as local prices have rallied due to tight supplies because of drought. The price rise could subsequently push up fabric and clothing prices and put pressure on the margins of garment makers. This has also forced key importers like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam to turn to other suppliers.
The freeze in Indian export will prompt Brazil, Australia and United States to raise shipments and has pushed global prices to near their highest since August.
Chirag Patel, chief executive officer at Jaydeep Cotton Fibers Pvt. Ltd, a leading exporter said that in last three-four weeks Indian exporters could not sign a deal as cotton is more expensive than Brazilian or Australian supplies.
He further said that the landed cost of Indian cotton for buyers in Pakistan and Bangladesh is at 75 cents to 76 cents per lb compared to around 73 cents for Brazilian cotton.
Pakistan and Bangladesh prefer Indian cotton due to lower freight charges.
Cotton supplies in spot markets have been dwindling even as domestic textile units are ramping up purchases, Patel said.
Local cotton spot market prices have surged 10 percent from a month ago to 38,400 rupees per candy of 356 kg (73.5 cents per lb) due to limited supplies after consecutive droughts cut production. A candy is equivalent to about two Indian bales of 170 kg each.
India may produce about 34.1 million bales of cotton in the 2015/16 season that started on Oct. 1, down from last yearâ€™s output of 38.3 million, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) estimates.
So far during the 2015/16 season, India exported around 6.5 million bales of cotton, with Bangladesh and Pakistan accounting for more than half of the total exports, said Dhiren Sheth, president of CAI. In 2014/15 India exported 6 million bales.
In October to April cotton supplies in Indian spot markets fell 12.5 percent from a year ago. The industry failed to judge the impact of drought on the production. Output turned out lower than the initial estimate, said a dealer with a global trading firm.
According to a trader based in Rajkot, Gujarat, the new cotton crop usually begins arriving from late September, but this year as sowing has been held up in key producing states due to delay in the monsoon, supplies would start only from mid-October.
Now textile units are aggressively buying to make sure they have stocks for the next four months.
A weekly report covering market and price information on the entire chain of polyester along with online access to daily polyester chain prices.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in individual products including polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose, and cotton.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in the individual country's natural and manmade fiber/filament industries.
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This week, as Microsoft launches Windows 8, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The whole company has been driving for years toward this radical overhaul of its flagship operating system.
It’s an urgently needed move as computing moves increasingly away from traditional PCs — on which Microsoft built its dominance — to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, areas where its competitors dominate.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has described Windows 8 as one of the most significant debuts in the company’s history, and characterized as epic the year of product releases and updates that Windows 8’s arrival heralds.
In addition to Windows 8, Microsoft has, or will soon, introduce a slew of products and services designed to work with its new operating system, from the Xbox Music service to a new version of Office.
“This is the single, largest product launch that Microsoft has ever done,” said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst with research firm Gartner. “And the single most important set of products that Microsoft has ever introduced.”
Windows is still the world’s most dominant PC operating system, on some 94 percent of PCs, according to Gartner information. But the dominance of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms in the mobile realm threatens the future of Windows — unless Windows 8 can start making up some of that ground.
For Microsoft, “that’s a huge headache because the value of the Windows franchise is that it’s the dominant personal-computing operating system, and it’s not anymore,” said Frank Gillett, an analyst with research firm Forrester. (Gillett includes operating systems for smartphones and tablets when he talks about personal-computing operating systems.)
Windows 8 is Microsoft’s attempt to bridge the gap between tablets and traditional PCs. It is designed to be both touch- and mouse-and-keyboard-friendly, with two modes of interaction: a tile-based design unfamiliar to most Windows users, and the familiar, traditional desktop interface.
Explaining those differences — along with the differences among the various versions of Windows 8 and the many changes from previous versions of the operating system — is likely to be one of Microsoft’s biggest challenges.
“If you look at the complexities involved in choosing a Windows 8 device, particularly the tablets, it’s nutty,” Gillett said. “It’s a two-headed operating system for which you’ll have at least four processor-type choices, each of which will give you different characteristics and experiences.”
[Continue reading the story here.]
[Image of Windows 8 Start screen from Microsoft]