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text: Celebrate the the 2008 Holiday Season with this collection of Limited Edition pins featuring the elaborate gingerbread houses found at the Walt Disney World® Resort. This pin features Minnie Mouse with the gingerbread house found at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the gingerbread house at the Resort. They have an afternoon of festivities to commemorate the 10th Anniversary planned starting at 1:00 p.m. on November 21 in the Resort lobby. Executive Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek, the creator behind the gingerbread house that served as the inspiration for the pin design, will be signing this pin at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort on that day from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This pin will be released at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

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The AWS re:Invent conference is coming to Las Vegas the week of December 2–6, and Coinbase is representing! Our incredible Product and Engineering team members will be speaking about site reliability, scaling our blockchain infrastructure, and teaching about cryptocurrencies. Come and join us!
AWS re:Invent is the annual Amazon Web Services (AWS) learning conference in Las Vegas that attracts developers, system administrators, architects, and technical decision makers from all over the cloud computing world. Last year, they had an estimated attendance of 50,000 and succeeded in taking over most of the famous Las Vegas Strip. This year, re:Invent is anticipated to set new records, and the Coinbase team is proud to be contributing to the learning aspect of the conference.
Coinbase has a close-knit relationship with Amazon on a few levels. First, AWS powers almost all of Coinbase’s infrastructure, from storage, databases, analytics, you name it. Second, we regularly speak at the AWS Loft in San Francisco, and publish about technology that we use and open source that runs on AWS. Third, we are on a mission to build an open financial system for the world and with that, bring the utility of blockchain and digital currencies to the masses.
As a company that has grown from 600 employees to over 800 this past year, we are committed to continuous development. Our engineers are excited about sharing stories from the trenches, our lessons learned, and talking shop about blockchain, crypto, and decentralized applications with fellow technologists who want to come along for the ride.
- Amy Li, a Site Reliability Engineer on our Reliability team and Lalita Maraj, a Software Engineer on our Cloud team will be presenting on how Coinbase handles incident management by leveraging AWS. Come learn how Coinbase made incident processing as user-friendly as possible — from creating an incident to reviewing a postmortem document. Wednesday, Dec 4, 12:15 PM — 1:15 PM, MGM, Level 2, Cedar Ballroom 254.
- James Lu, a Software Engineer on our Consumer Product team and Goutham Buchi, an Engineering Manager on our Consumer Product team will be presenting on how Amazon Pinpoint is used as a core engagement service to delight our customers and grow our business. Wednesday, Dec 4, 10:45 AM — 11:45 AM, MGM, Level 3, Chairman’s Ballroom 368.
- Graham Jenson, a Sr. Software Engineer on our Cloud team will be presenting on how to use the AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) to develop serverless applications in a security-conscious organization. See how understanding features of AWS Lambda, AWS CloudFormation, and AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) helps you provide a secure way to take your serverless ideas to production. Monday, Dec 2, 4:40 PM — 5:00 PM, Aria, Level 1 West, Nuvola Theater — Expo Hall.
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter @coinbase, or like us on Facebook. Interested in learning more about opportunities at Coinbase? Check out our careers page. We saved a seat for you!
Check out the original article here.


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Sprint Nextel, Microsoft team up for mobile search service
Updated 10:00 pm, Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Sprint Nextel Corp., the third-largest U.S. wireless services provider, will offer a mobile version of Microsoft Corp.'s local search service to help customers find nearby businesses.
The service, available today, is the first product of an alliance between the two companies, John Styers, general manager of Sprint Mobile Media Network, said.
The companies will share advertising revenue.
Sprint, which saw profit drop last quarter because of customer defections, is looking for services compelling enough to lock in subscribers.
Microsoft is trying to gain users for its search services by targeting areas where Google Inc. doesn't dominate.
- Apple iPhone X May Harm iPhone 8 SalesWochit
- How to Pay Off Student LoansRSimpleTime
- Ford is Recalling 1.3 Million TrucksWochit
- Everything With Wi-Fi Has a Newly Discovered Security Flaw. Here's How to Protect YourselfTMTime
- Previewing Netflix's Q3 Earnings: Will Price Hikes Spur Churn?Cheddar
- New Tech Gives Bank Cybersecurity a BoostCheddar
- Mattress Firm Does Bed-in-a-Box DifferentlyCheddar
- Russian 'agents' spend tens of thousands on Google adsWibbitz
- Editorial: Baltimore may be underdog in Amazon HQ2 chase, but that's goodWBAL
- Starbucks Is Putting a Maple Pecan Latte on the MenuFAWTime
- Seattle is in a $5 billion battle for Amazon's second headquartersWochit
- Equifax reveals second hack months before latest breachFox35Orlando
- Vermont improves access to treatmentWPTZ
- Subway Wants Alleged Misconduct Charges Associated With Jared Fogle DroppedBuzz60
- Target Hiring Over 100,000 Employees For Holiday SeasonBuzz60
- Amazon to open second company headquartersWTAE
- Gap Is Closing 200 StoresFortuneTime
- Obama Issues Statement On Trump's Decision To End DACAGeoBeats
- Amazon Priming Whole Foods for Prime Member DiscountsCheddar
Reston, Va.-based Sprint looked at several competitors before choosing Microsoft, Styers said.
He declined to name them.
The service will also let customers view maps and driving directions, save business contact information on the phone and click to dial.
The service will be available on all Web-enabled handsets that Sprint sells, Styers said.
Vodafone Group PLC, the world's biggest mobile-phone company, includes Google's Internet search on its handsets.
Motorola Inc., the world's second-biggest maker of mobile phones, also puts Google's search on some handsets.
Sprint also offers Google's e-mail service on its phones.
Google is the owner of the world's most popular search engine.


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The government on Friday proposed increasing customs duty on CCTV camera, IP camera, digital video recorder and network video recorder to 20 per cent from 15 per cent, in order to provide the domestic industry a level playing field.
Besides, the government has proposed hiking basic customs duty (BCD) on optical fibres, optical fibre bundles and cables to 15 per cent from 10 per cent.
The proposals were announced in the Union Budget 2019-20 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
She said the government has also withdrawn customs duty exemptions on specific electronic goods such as switches, sockets, plugs, connectors, relays etc and would now attract applicable rates.
The government has also proposed increasing customs duty on the indoor and outdoor unit of split system air conditioner to 20 per cent from the present 10 per cent to promote domestic manufacturing.
"Make in India is a cherished goal. In order to provide domestic industry a level playing field, basic customs duty is being increased on items such as cashew kernels, PVC, vinyl flooring, tiles, metal fittings, mountings for furniture, auto parts, certain kinds of synthetic rubbers, marble slabs, optical fibre cable, CCTV camera, IP camera, digital and network video recorders etc," the finance minister said.
Charger and power adapter of CCTV camera/ IP camera and DVR / NVR would also now attract a customs duty of 15 per cent. Earlier, these items were exempted from customs duty.
Customs duty on imported loudspeaker has also been raised to 15 per cent from the present 10 per cent.
The government has also withdrawn customs duty exemption on capital goods used for manufacturing of specified electronic items such as cathode ray tubes, CD/CD-R/DVD/DVD-R, deflection components, CRT monitors/CTVs and plasma display panel.
The Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) has been urging the government to raise customs duties on imported finished goods such as CCTV Camera and CCTV Recorders to promote local manufacturing and discourage imports.
RK Semwal, THDC Ltd speaks at The Economic Times Renewable Energy Conclave in Jaipur.ETGovernment.com, an initiative of The Economic Times, is a comprehensive media vertical offering news, views, information, data, tools, events and services to decision-makers, influencers and niche readers interested in the overall development in the government sector at national, state, district and village levels.Follow us on below mentioned platforms for more updates!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/et-govermentTwitter: https://twitter.com/ET_GovernmentFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ETGovernment/?ref=page_internal#ETgovernment #Governmentnews #Latestupdates #Latestnews


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“In peace times it is just Switzerland but in war time it is the only country that everybody has confidence in” – Gertrude Stein
“You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation”. The luxury watch manufacturer’s slogan also sums up the essence of ‘brand’ Switzerland: the world’s second-strongest brand. From watches and Swiss army knives to politics and banking, the landlocked country has a reputation for precision, quality, reliability and stability. Everything in Switzerland, except for the chocolate of course, is built to last.
The desire for longevity dates back to 1515 where, in the interest of self-preservation, after losing the Battle of Marignano to the French, Switzerland abandoned its expansionist policies, favouring neutrality. This has seen global organisations such as the World Health Organisation, United Nations and the Bank for International Settlements all opting for Swiss headquarters.
Perpetual neutrality— signed during the 1815 Congress of Vienna—has also resulted in a capital influx and is one of the reasons Switzerland always does well out of wars. Last year, as the US/China trade war raged on, the Swiss franc benefitted from its safe-haven status, appreciating to its strongest level since June 2017¹.
Global leaders have responded to the coronavirus pandemic using the language of war. So it should be no surprise that its Covid-19 response has been so effective that the Deep Knowledge Group in Hong Kong has ranked Switzerland the safest country for Covid-19.
While the time-critical Covid-19 response was successful for its non-pharmaceutical interventions, Switzerland’s pharmaceutical industry employs 135,000 and contributes to 30% of its exports, more than the famed chocolate, cheese and watch industries combined.
Overall, chemicals (including pharmaceutical and life sciences companies) contribute 45% of Swiss exports and constitute the country’s top export industry. Dating back to 1896, Basel became the country’s pharmaceutical hub now with some 900 pharma and MedTech companies, including Roche and Novartis, two of the three largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Zug and Lucerne are home to healthcare products that assist doctors to diagnose diseases.
With a strong work ethic, one of the unofficial Swiss mottos is ‘if it is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly’ is evident across the country’s top 50 most valuable brands. According to Brand Finance Switzerland 2020, at CHF20.2 billion, Nestlé is the nation’s most valuable brand; Sika is the fastest growing (up 64%); and Rolex, the most valuable watch brand in 2017 and Ian Fleming’s favourite, continues to be the strongest Swiss brand.
While watchmaking originated in Germany, it was the French Huguenot watchmakers fleeing the violence in their home country in the 1500s that transformed the Swiss industry when they settled in Geneva. Today, watches are Switzerland’s 5th largest export and make up 53% of the global watch market in value but only 2% of volume.
Even top Swiss brands are not immune to the aftermath of Covid-19, however, and they are predicted to potentially lose more than CHF15 billion of cumulative brand value. Luxury watches, which saw exports reach CHF21.7 billion in 2019, are no exception. In March, Swiss exports to China dropped by 21.9% by value and by 41.3% in Hong Kong, Switzerland’s main watch market in 2019.
One export that is as emblematic of Switzerland as the Matterhorn is banking. Neutrality and client non-disclosures codes akin to those observed by doctors and priests has allowed the country to become one of the largest offshore financial centres in the world.
Switzerland did not sail easily through the credit crisis of 2007/2008 but the aspirational appeal of a stable citizen-led democracy and a historic aversion to high tax rates means that the country is better set to bounce back post 2020.
Since the abolition of bank-client confidentiality vis-à-vis foreign countries in October 2018, Swiss banks have reinvented themselves. Touting themselves as sophisticated wealth managers in an economically stable country, they managed CHF3.7 trillion in private assets in 2018. This, according to the Swiss Banking Association (SBA), means Switzerland has 27% of the global cross-border wealth management business, making the financial sector a key element of the Swiss economy.
The pressure of Europe’s negative interest rates has forced some banks to charge for holding cash, but for the most part banks in Switzerland are now focusing on digital transformation to improve cost structures and increase efficiency.
FinTech has also taken root too, with more than 360 FinTech start-ups across digital payments, personal finance and alternative lending. The largest segment is expected to be digital payments with a total transaction value of $17 billion in 2020, with the Swiss crowdlending market, which grew by 40% in 2018, slowing down.
More than one third of FinTech start-ups are active in distributed ledger technology, which lies at the heart of cryptocurrencies, the next financial frontier that Switzerland is pioneering.
Last year, Wordline and Bitcoin Suisse joined forces to allow merchant and consumers to make payments in crypto currencies virtually everywhere. Meanwhile Swiss banks including Julius Baer and Maerki Baumann have launched digital asset services.
In addition to digital innovation in banking, Swiss finance sector is moving beyond just managing wealth and strengthening its position as the global marketplace for sustainable finance with the green agenda being given a political boost late last year².
In Sustainable finance in Switzerland: from pioneer to premier international hub, the SBA outlines actions and initiatives that includes integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the investment advisory process.
Beyond Davos providing the podium for the World Economic Forum and luxury skiing in Gstaad, Switzerland has inspired some of the great names in history, notably Albert Einstein, Le Corbusier, Alberto Giacometti and Carl Gustav Jung. Today, Switzerland is likely to be near the very top of the list as the wealthy reassess where they want to be based.
New York’s Midtown is a ghost town; London, which now feels like a plague city, still has the spectre of a post Brexit reality³ to vanquish; and right now Hong Kong is as stable as a powder keg in a dry lightning storm.
In a world where government integrity is lacking, Switzerland’s system of direct democracy (where voters have the ultimate decision via regular referenda) and federalism where the power sits with the 26 cantons, means the country has political stability too. For this reason, it ranks 5th in the 2020 Index of Economic Freedom and is the 4th least corrupt country (out of 180) according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index.
While Zurich, Geneva and Basel might be among the top 10 most expensive cities to live in, they feature in Mercer’s Quality of Living 2019 Top 10 City Rankings with clean mountain air and lake water only minutes away. The latter are attractions for tourism too, which in 2018 contributed 2.9% to Swiss GDP and provided 4.4% of total employment; despite the strong Swiss franc’s⁴ impact.
Competition between the cantons extends to tax, which means the country has some of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world (and plans to bring them down further⁵). Its solid income tax base means that when the bill is presented to global citizenry for the coronavirus-related financial bailout, in the form of (inevitably) higher taxes⁶), Switzerland looks like a win-win location for the complete work/life/health balance.
¹ Swiss franc hits highest level against euro in more than 2 years, Financial Times (5.8.2019)
² Swiss voters deliver decisive shift towards green parties, Financial Times (21.10.2019)
³ What does the post-Brexit future hold for City of London fund managers? Financial Times (1.8.2020)
⁴ Switzerland’s Nice Views Don’t Come Cheap for Tourists The Wall Street Journal (30.7.2017)
⁵Switzerland will remain a low-tax centre for big firms, The Economist (23.5.20119)
⁶ Tax: how we will pay for the pandemic measures, Financial Times (15.5.2020)
Article for information only. All content is created and published by CdR Capital SA. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s). Information on this website is only directed at professional, institutional or qualified investors and is not suitable for retail investors. None of the material contained on this website is intended to constitute an offer to sell, or an invitation or solicitation of an offer to buy any product or service. Nothing in this website, or article, should be construed as investment, tax, legal or other advice.
Vive La France
France won the world cup. Now, can Emmanuel Macron do for the country what Didier Deschamps has done for their soccer team? To do so, he will have to succeed in reorganising the welfare state, face the endlessly striking unions and tackle immigration.
It is hard to ignore Saudi Arabia; headlines painting an ever-bleaker picture for a country already associated with conflict and extremism. When looking at this oil giant with an investment lens, it is very easy to get distracted by the noise of politics.
Made in China
Wimbledon and Rolls Royce all conjure up great Britishness, while Hermès is part of the Paris luxe brand and Ferrari embodies la dolce vita Italiana. Nations too have brands; think Swiss precision, or the vivacity of the samba and soccer in Brazil.


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Orios Venture Partners has launched two seed funds having investments in companies such as online pharmacy startup PharmEasy, dairy startup Country Delight and auto maintenance startup GoMechanic. The early-stage venture capital firm is also raising its third fund to invest in winners from the previous two vehicles. Right now, Orios stands a ......
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Star Wars Celebration poster revealed, plus 40th Anniversary panel
It has been announced today that this year’s Star Wars Celebration will officially kick off on Thursday, April 13 with a Star Wars 40th Anniversary panel, set to feature Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and discussions with some of the saga’s brightest stars. It promises to highlight the impact of the galaxy far, far away and the fandom that has propelled it for the last four decades; this marquee Celebration event will undoubtedly include many not-to-be-missed surprises…
In addition, the official poster for this year’s event has been revealed, combining the three generations of Star Wars all into one place. Check it out in the gallery below!
Star Wars Celebration 2017 takes place in Orlando, Florida from April 13-16, 2017, at the Orange County Convention Center. Other previously-announced guests for the event include Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), and Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), who will all be signing at the Star Wars Celebration Autograph Hall.
Lucasfilm also previously confirmed that Warwick Davis will return to panel-hosting duties for the event. You can check out all of the badges for the event below and secure your tickets by clicking here!
What are you hoping to see at Star Wars Celebration 2017? Sound off below!
New Star Wars Celebration Poster Revealed


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While sales of all segments of construction chemicals are charting an upward trajectory, admixtures continue to enjoy a dominant position. It´s big.
India´s construction chemicals industry is currently worth Rs 4,200 crore, according to Sukanta Mallik, Assistant Vice President-Business Development, CICO Technologies Ltd.
¨As of today, the construction chemicals industry stands at Rs 4,500 crore across seven segments: Waterproofing, repairs, industrial flooring, tiling, foundation grouts, admixtures and sealants,¨ says Sarjerao Kasbekar, Senior Sales Manager, Dow Construction Chemicals
And it´s poised to grow bigger
¨Business is estimated to grow 20 per cent in the coming two years with admixture, waterproofing, tiling and repair as the key drivers,¨ opines Kasbekar.
Mallik expects the market to grow to between Rs 4,500 crore and Rs 5,000 crore by next year.
Although at a nascent stage, the Indian construction chemicals market will exhibit a CAGR of 17.2 per cent during 2016 to 2020, to reach $1.89 billion (approx Rs 12,633 crore) by 2020, as per Dr Sanjay Bahadur, Global CEO, Construction Chemical Division, Pidilite Industries Ltd.
Developments that will yield additional demand for construction chemicals include the creation of affordable housing to cater to fast-paced urbanisation and government investments in the expansion of the country´s road network, metro and infrastructure construction, according to Kasbekar. ¨Regulatory changes such as the ban on mixing cement on site and mandating the use of ready-mix cement (RMC) in metros will also spur demand for chemicals,¨ he adds.
¨Over the ensuing five years, demand for construction chemicals will be driven by new construction in response to urbanisation, which is expected to grow from about 30 per cent today to 40 per cent by 2030; the government´s 100 smart cities project; housing for all by 2022, which itself mandates 110 million housing units; greater awareness of building rehabilitation technologies; the investment of $290 billion in infrastructure; the implementation of the National Manufacturing Policy (to grow manufacturing´s share in the GDP from 16 per cent to 25 per cent by 2022); and the growing use of RMC in construction, which is expected to expand from 7 per cent to over 20 per cent,¨ says M Vivekanandan, Managing Director, Flowcrete India.
Growth across segments
While sales of all segments of construction chemicals are charting an upward trajectory, admixtures continue to enjoy a dominant position.
¨Admixture technology has become a norm in concrete as users look for high-performance, durable concrete,¨ says Nilotpol Kar, Business Director, Construction Chemicals, BASF India Ltd.
¨Products for repairs and rehabilitation and anti-corrosion are trending as these are essential to rehabilitate and retrofit older structures to ensure those live out their average life of 50 years,¨ opines Mallik.
¨Buyers of flooring systems are analysing the life-cycle of repair products and new flooring, and hence, are open to more durable and initially expensive systems,¨ says Kar.
Adhesives make up 7-8 per cent of the construction chemicals market, according to BS Nagaraj, Product Segment Manager-Waterproofing, Sealant & Adhesives, Fosroc. In this segment, tile adhesives and tile grout solutions have good prospects because of the expanding range of construction materials used. For instance, Fosroc´s Nitotile solutions can be used to fix ceramic, vitrified and glass tile, and natural stone like granite and marble, indoors or outdoors, even under water. Tiles can be fixed to walls, floors, and tile itself. ¨All these are of tropical grade to suit Indian working conditions,¨ clarifies Nagaraj.
All-round growth makes this an opportune time to introduce cutting-edge solutions in the Indian market. To this end, Dow has introduced the exclusive Vorastar Polyurea, a polyurea spray elastomer system to protect steel (pipelines and holding tanks) and concrete from harsh environments, particularly high-acid and high-moisture environments. ¨We strongly believe that if this product can´t solve the issue, nothing can,¨ opines Kasbekar.
Bright prospects lie ahead for green chemicals too.
¨Today, customers are becoming increasingly aware of eco-friendly construction chemicals, which means construction chemicals made of green materials and also using chemicals to construct sustainable energy-efficient structures. Customers are ready to pay a small premium for green chemicals,¨ opines Dr Bahadur.
Trends in waterproofing
Waterproofing compounds comprise the most sorted out construction chemicals segment, enjoying 14 per cent of the overall market on the back of greater awareness, focus on quality standards and product performance.
¨Waterproofing and repair product customers are shifting from two-component products to single component, ready-to-use products, gradually overcoming cost constraints to emphasise the simplicity of handling and ease of application,¨ observes Kasbekar. ¨Also, we´re seeing an uptick in demand as against a few years ago, for PU-based products or blends of acrylic and PU for high-end waterproofing.¨ Dow´s Elastene 8850 polymer-based product is a single-component waterproofing system. As elasticity increases dirt pickup, this product balances both, providing long-term waterproofing with UV stability and low dirt pickup.
¨Waterproofing systems are moving from conventional methods, which are a failure, to foolproof high-end options. Consumers are more concerned about the properties of solutions and their interaction with concrete and impact on the environment,¨ says Kar.
¨To save cost and enjoy uniform warranties, customers are increasingly demanding end-to-end solutions from a single supplier,¨ says Prasad Satavse, Country Head, Chowgule Construction Chemicals Pvt Ltd.
¨To save time, customers are asking for waterproofing and other applications that are imbibed in the initial construction phase, which is a good sign because waterproofing is not an ad-hoc fix but an essential construction step to ensure the longevity of concrete structures.¨
In future, Satavse expects the use of mechanisation in application to increase to offset the lack of qualified workers.
What makes a chemical a bestseller?
Chowgule´s bestselling product is CrystalFlex2Ksuperstrong, an impregnating crystalline system that becomes an integral part of the substrate. ¨CrystalFlex2Ksuperstrong stands out because it self-cures after being applied, and does not require water curing, unlike other sodium silicate-based systems that have to be water cured for four to six days while the crystalline process is completed,¨ explains Satavse. ¨Another unique feature of CrystalFlex2Ksuperstrong is that it is alkaline with a stable pH value of 11.5, which makes it most compatible with concrete whose pH is around 12.¨
Dr Fixit´s bestselling products are waterproofing solutions like Dr Fixit Pidiproof LW+, Dr. Fixit Pidicrete URP, Dr Fixit Crack-X Paste, Dr Fixit Roofseal, Dr Fixit Raincoat, etc, for their dual household and industrial use and for suiting both new construction as well as remedial solutions.
¨Our bestselling waterproofing solution MasterSeal Roof M800 can be applied in a plethora of applications - underground, podiums, over ground, roof - and across construction sectors such as marine, infrastructure, commercial, underground metros, road tunnels and power,¨ says Kar.
¨Single-component, liquid-applied polyurethane coating, polyurethane sealants, cementitious grouts, micro concrete (Tamms Form and Pour) and grouts (NSGrout) contribute to our volume,¨ says Vivekanandan.
¨Our bestselling products are CICO Tapecrete P-151, an acrylic-based, polymer-modified cementitious waterproofing compound, and CORCHEM 206i, a single-component, high solid content, moisture-cured, polyurethane-based, tar-extended elastomeric protective coating system, suited for the waterproofing of terraces, walls, etc,¨ says Mallik.
Clearly, there´s a world of choice out there!
Busting 7 myths about construction chemicals
MYTH 1: Construction chemical products are costly.
¨Construction chemicals add approximately 1 per cent to the cost of a project and help cut down on maintenance expenses,¨ asserts M Vivekanandan, Managing Director, Flowcrete.
MYTH 2: The greater the dose of construction chemicals, the better the performance and durability of concrete.
¨Actually, the dose needs to be optimised based on the cement and sand quality used from site to site,¨ explains Sarjerao Kasbekar, Senior Sales Manager, Dow Construction Chemicals.
MYTH 3: Environmentally sustainable, high-quality construction chemicals do not make economic sense.
¨In fact, these qualities are no longer mutually exclusive,¨ opines Kasbekar. ¨Very often, chemicals made of higher quality and sustainable materials deliver better performance and durability and are more potent. Greener construction chemicals can help reduce structural heating or cooling and repair costs. An optimal solution will deliver results without adding cost burden.¨
MYTH 4: High-end, technologically advanced products are difficult to apply and need skilled intervention.
¨Many of our technologically advanced products are extremely easy to use,¨ says Kasbekar.
MYTH 5: New technology will not work as it is not time-tested.
¨Newer solutions are based on science, and are working in similar environmental conditions (as India) across the globe,¨ explains Nilotpol Kar, Business Director-Construction Chemicals, BASF India Ltd.
MYTH 6: Construction chemicals are supposed to be ´very cheap´.
¨Construction chemicals aren´t cheap but holistic solutions that add economic value across the lifecycle of structures,¨ says Kar.
MYTH 7: Structures can be equally durable without using construction chemicals.
¨No, the quality of raw materials available today necessitates the use of chemicals to make the serviceable life of structures longer,¨ opines Kar.
Application faux pas
India is known to be a price-sensitive construction chemicals market. So, the focus is often not on the long-term outcome of the solution and, hence, accurate product application. ¨This is especially so because most application companies work on a tender basis on projects.
Customer affordability, not performance, drives the choice of solution,¨ says Sarjerao Kasbekar, Senior Sales Manager, Dow Construction Chemicals.
Industry voices identify the top application errors based on their experience:
M Vivekanandan, Managing Director, Flowcrete
Nilotpol Kar, Business Director-Construction Chemicals, BASF India Ltd
Tips for applying new concrete on old
Sarjerao Kasbekar, Senior Sales Manager, Dow Construction Chemicals, says:
To share your views on the Waterproofing & Construction Chemicals market in India, write in at feedback@ConstructionWorld.in


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Lamborghini has finally retired the Aventador after a 10-year production run and is making the necessary preparations to launch the all-new flagship model. Spotted in Italy for the very first time, the electrified supercar was briefly hiding under thick camouflage and barely moving. We do get to see the imposingly wide rear tires and a top-mounted quad exhaust system with dual finishers shaped like hexagons.
The heavily disguised test vehicle gives us the impression it’s slightly shorter than the Aventador, but it’s too early to say for sure. What we do know is the mid-engined V12 machine will feature a hybrid powertrain as the Sant’Agata Bolognese will electrify all three model lineups by the middle of the decade. To make it happen, Lamborghini will be spending more than €1.5 billion in the coming years.
Bear in mind the fabled Italian supercar marque has already launched a couple of hybrid cars with the Sian and Countach featuring supercapacitor tech, but both were limited-run vehicles. The Aventador’s successor will be a permanent fixture in the lineup and will be joined by hybrid derivatives of the Huracan replacement and the facelifted Urus SUV.
Details regarding the technical specifications of the new top-tier supercar are shrouded in mystery, but the V12 is expected to remain naturally aspirated. It’s unclear whether the displacement will remain at 6.5 liters or the engineers are planning some changes to the internal combustion engine. One potential hardware upgrade will be the switch to a dual-clutch automatic transmission replacing the rather outdated independent shifting rod (ISR) automated manual.
How much power to expect from the Aventador successor? A lot. The Sian makes a combined 807 hp whereas the modern-day Countach puts out a slightly lower 803 hp. Logic tells us the new V12 machine will also break the 800-hp barrier and we wouldn’t be too surprised if it will outpunch the two Aventador-based special editions. Closer to 1,000 hp wouldn’t be too far-fetched, but we’ll have to wait and see.
A fully electric Lamborghini is still a way off since Lamborghini chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann recently said it won’t arrive until 2027 or 2028. Early reports state it will be a 2+2 gran tourer riding on the SSP architecture currently being developed by the Volkswagen Group.
Source: Varryx / YouTube


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In just over 10 years, SoulCycle has become a leader in the indoor cycling field. Since opening its first studio in 2006 on the Upper West Side, the brand has expanded to more than 80 locations throughout North America and developed an obsessive following.
The brand only continues to grow; amid an increasingly crowded boutique studio scene, SoulCycle opened its 20th location in New York City last month, on East 46th Street near Grand Central Station.
We spoke with SoulCycle’s vice president of design, Alan Cooke, who joined the company in 2011 when it had just six permanent studios, about what they’ve learned along the way.
Engagement through art
A SoulCycle in the West Village isn’t all that different from one in West Hollywood. But the company has been differentiating its studios through art.
“Because our spaces are white and large and clean and modern, they tend to read more like an art gallery than a studio,” Cooke said. “We’re very passionate about art and what art can mean in a fitness environment.”
In the past, the brand has worked with graffiti artists such as Gregory Siff to create murals in its lobbies. For the Midtown East studio, its distinguishing feature is an interactive light installation, called Light Up Your Soul.
Designed with Pittsburgh agency Deeplocal, the installation features 20 orbs, seven of which have pulse oximeters; when touched, the orbs blink and change color based on your heart rate (typically going from blue to red as it increases). Riders are encouraged to touch the orb before and after class to see how it changes.
“We always found ways to integrate lighting into our studios, whether it be neon or our signage,” Cooke said. “We wanted to create an experience that can be unlocked and encourages riders to interact with the installation.”
Better front desk experience
Avid SoulCycle riders might notice that the front desk where you check in for your class is lower than usual.
“We lowered everything down a lot to really promote interaction with the front desk staff so it’s not as imposing,” Cooke said, noting this can be especially important for new customers.
Bigger bike map
The Midtown East studio has also made it easier for customers to find their bike assignments.
“When a rider checks in for class, one of the things they need to understand is where their bike is. Historically, that map lived on the front desk,” said Cooke, referring to an 8-by-11-inch sheet. “We enlarged it and created a large-format installation.”
The 5-by-8-foot map can be found on the wall to the left of the front desk. Going forward, Cooke can’t say with certainty if all studios will have a similar design, but that “we will take the feedback we’ve seen here from staff and riders and work to continue to innovate the designs.”
Keeping a clean design
One area Cooke isn’t messing with is SoulCycle’s signature modern look of white walls and white lighting.
“We’ve worked really hard to honor the brand integrity and really continue to make it feel like a clean, white, uplifting space,” he said.
There is one exception to that rule: the brand’s month-old Flatiron space SoulAnnex, which specializes in off-the-bike classes. There, instructors are able to play with multicolored lighting, projected from overhead lights onto a white floor.
“We call it the moodiness of the space,” Cooke said. “We got to change our palette and finishes in a way we wouldn’t have done at Soul.”


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ONE OF the Bank Workers Charity’s partners, Turn2Us, has recently launched its annual Benefits Awareness Month (BAM) campaign, which continues until 16 May.
The campaign highlights the availability of welfare benefits and other financial support which can help working people in financial need to maximise their income.
Research by Turn2us found that on average, working households are forced to spend half of their monthly income on utility bills and food. Worryingly, 39% say their outgoings now outweigh their earnings.
We have experienced a number of calls on our own free helpline concerning increased payments towards rent and council tax since last year’s changes, which has had a negative impact on people’s financial situation.
We would encourage you to get in touch with us if you are struggling financially.
We offer a range of support whether you are working or not, including access to Turn2us’s Benefits Calculator on our website, so you can find out what benefits you might be entitled to.


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Champion Motors, Suzuki’s authorized dealer, participated in the Singapore Motorshow 2017 from 12 – 15 January 2017. The largest automobile event in Singapore was into its third consecutive year at Suntec City Singapore and we took to the occasion to celebrate our 40th year of partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation with an array of activities.
40 Years Partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation
Through 40 years of successful partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation and Champion Motors’ strong dedication, we have produced outstanding and iconic cars in Singapore; the Suzuki Swift and the Vitara. Striving to become the world’s most trusted automotive distributor and retailer, Champion Motors seeks to build ever-deeper relationships and deliver outstanding brand representation; with the aim to lead in customer experience, and being always ahead.
To celebrate this successful partnership, a specially created 40th anniversary logo was epitomized this special moment. In addition, as part of our 40th anniversary celebration, we have lined up a year round of activities and promotions for our customers; one of such was the exclusive Motorshow 2017 S-Cross promotion.
All New Ignis Preview
The event saw the unveiling of the All New Suzuki Ignis showcase by Suzuki Motor Corporation’s Mr. Minoru Amano, Division General Manager, Asia Automobile Division. A compact crossover set for launch here in the second half of the year. The All New Ignis as described by Chief Engineer, Mr. Masayuki Ishiwata, “It was designed to combine an unforgettable style and presence that plays anywhere in the world, with the ability to perform in an array of driving situations and life moments”.
Where Stars Meet Cars
On 14 January, MediaCorp Yes 933 DJ Kun Hua and Henry, and MediaCorp Artiste and Suzuki Swift Ambassador, Ya Hui made their special appearance at Suzuki booth! The DJs did live roving on-site and shared with Yes 933 listeners, information on the All New Ignis and the 40 th anniversary special promotion. Our Swift Ambassador, Ya Hui imparted interesting driving experiences with her Swift Special Edition, hosted a series of quizzes and games with Motorshow visitors.


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Tour operators optimistic going into 2014
Planning a trip to Myanmar this year?
That sounds pretty exotic. But in the annual survey of travel forecasts and trends for the United States Tour Operators Association, participating members named Myanmar as the top emerging or "off-the-beaten path" destination for the second year in a row. It was followed by Vietnam and Cambodia, which tied for second, and India.
Italy topped the list as the tour operators most popular and sought-after destination in 2014 followed by Britain and China and Peru, which tied for third.
"Nearly 40 percent of members cited Europe as the region of the world offering the most experiential travel options, perhaps not surprising given the wealth of cultural and gastronomic experiences available," said Terry Dale, president and CEO of the association.
Top trends for 2014 included enjoying a river cruise followed by sports travel to events such as the World Cup and Olympics, faith-based travel and travel related to pop entertainment destinations.
Tour operators seemed generally optimistic about business prospects in 2014 with 93.3 percent anticipating growth in sales with 59.6 percent predicting a boom year with growth anywhere from 7 to 10 percent or higher.
That reflects an upward trend that saw a big increase in business in 2013 over 2012, with 62.5 percent of the operators reporting sales increased by 10 percent or more.
"We've been hearing anecdotally from members about how strong business has been this year and now the survey both validates and exceeds expectations for the health of our members' business," said Dale. "What's really interesting about these results is that more than half of those members attribute the increase in business to an improving economy and consumer confidence, which is a positive sign for the industry in general."
Of course, that optimism could change rapidly.
According to Dale, political instability, natural disasters, global financial instability, pandemics or other health woes, the strength of the U.S. dollar and terrorism could all negatively affect the travel business.
One of the biggest growing segments of the travel business is families traveling with children under 18 years of age.
See more about comments here.


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Yukari Iwatani Kane and Joann S. Lublin report that while Jobs has been on sick leave some Apple directors have been getting weekly updates about his medical condition. Their source, who has seen Jobs recently, informs them that Jobs 'is coming along' and will return late this month.
He also added that Steve Jobs 'was one real sick guy,' and that 'fundamentally he was starving to death over a nine-month period. He couldn't digest protein. [But] he took corrective action.'
According to the report Steve Jobs has occasionally visited Apple headquarters since his leave began. Many hope that he will make an appearance at WWDC 09 to launch a new iPhone; however, the company has maintained that his return will be at the end of the month.


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Today’s consumers have a desire for tangible action. They demand accountability, not the appearance of it. They want genuine changes on society’s pressing issues – from climate change and data, to social and racial equity. They want true authenticity.
In Hong Kong, companies are increasingly looking at their ESG (environmental, social, governance) commitments and how they should respond to consumers’ desire for progress on many social and environmental issues.
In terms of climate change for example, CLP recently announced it is engaged in discussions with the Hong Kong government to contribute to a preliminary decarbonisation roadmap in support of the city’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Another example is Hong Kong family-owned apparel and textile company Esquel, which understood the need for a more fundamental shift to address climate change and ensure sustainable growth. In 2012, the company launched ‘Integral’ – a pioneering sustainable manufacturing facility combining modern technologies, quality employment, innovation and environmental sustainability.
For both these businesses, change is happening at a business level and communication about their sustainability initiatives is highly connected to the actions they are taking.
This is in line with the results of FleishmanHillard’s latest five-market Authenticity Gap survey which shows that nearly two thirds of consumers (64%) believe that for a company to be more credible than its competitors, it must talk about its behavior and impact on society and the environment, not just the customer benefits it offers.
But while it is important for companies to take action and be accountable, they also need to consider how having a voice on an issue may resonate with their different stakeholder groups – particularly if they have global operations where the context for an issue may be different in Hong Kong, for example, than it is in Seattle. Companies with global supply chains and work forces need to consider today’s complex trading environment and how an action in one market could be interpreted in another.
There are three central questions organisations should consider before taking a stand:
–Is the issue they wish to take a stand on relevant to their business and what actions are being taken within the business to support the company’s external position? Consumers are very quick to see through companies that are all talk and no action and want tangible evidence of progress and a roadmap for change.
-How could this issue play out in different markets? How will it be interpreted by netizens and governments in both the East and the West? While it is important to have strong principles on ethical and responsible manufacturing, for example, stakeholders in some markets are concerned about companies making decisions based on what they believe are false assumptions. With any positioning statements, particular care needs to be taken with the language to ensure it does not have unintended consequences.
-What are the risks – both reputational and business – of taking a stand on an issue in both the East and the West? What business trade-offs is the company prepared to make in order to remain steadfast to their cause? If the worst-case scenario happens, companies need to understand – and be prepared to accept – the potential impact of prolonged negative consumer sentiment and boycotts of their business in the affected market.
So, while consumers are demanding action, knowing the right time to stand up, the right issue to champion and the right words to say is more complex than ever. It has never been more important for companies to have their eyes wide open to the implications of ongoing trade policy developments before taking a stand. These decisions can not only impact reputation but also business.
This piece was written by Rachel Catanach, Senior Partner and President Greater China FleishmanHillard and Honorary Secretary of PRHK. PRHK Viewpoints is an article series contributed by members of PRHK, Hong Kong’s PR & communications association.


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With 2022 slowly coming to a close, we’re excited to see what 2023 has in store, particularly in the auto department. Without question, the world is moving towards getting more electric vehicles on the road, with several manufacturers pledging to halt or drastically reduce their gas and diesel-powered cars. Whatever you fancy, 2023 is bound to bring in loads of options on the vehicle front. With new updates to older models, and some brand new models heading our way, check out 10 of the best new cars for 2023.
1. 2023 Mazda CX-70 & CX-90
Expected to launch in the first half of 2023, the new SUVs will feature a widebody design and will be replacing the aging CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs.
2. 2023 Toyota GR Corolla
A hot hatchback from Toyota is a rarity these days, but it seems that they’re actually churning out an exciting model. It’s powered by an amped up version of the 1.6 liter, inline-three that debuted with the GR Yaris.
3. 2023 Audi A6 E-Tron
This major entrant for the Audi lineup is a gamechanger in the EV space. This all-new electric version of the A6 is based on the VW’s group’s latest skateboard architecture similar to the ones that underpin vehicles like the E-Tron SUV.
4. 2023 BMW XM
The all-new BMW XM is bringing an exceptionally futuristic look and feel for the new year. With sharply defined lines, this robust SUV was designed to be the most powerful production from BMW.
5. 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE
2023 is going to be an exciting chapter in Mercedes’ design identity. This futuristic and daring sedan sits on the same platform as the EQS, but a slightly more compact variant.
6. 2023 Dodge Hornet
Dodge finally has its own compact crossover SUV! With a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the Dodge Hornet has a hybrid plug-in option and produces up to 285 horsepower with a 0-60 sprint of 6.1 seconds!
7. 2023 Honda CR-V
Honda’s beloved compact sedan has gotten a much needed and anticipated makeover for 2023. This includes significant updates to the exterior, cabin, and engine.
8. 2023 Honda HR-V
Debuting back in 2016, this subcompact model has gotten a major overhaul which now includes a sharp exterior design and a new 2.0-liter engine that produces 158 horsepower.
9. 2023 Kia Niro
With a bold new look, the 2023 Kia Niro is definitely upping the eco-friendly game. The base hybrid model comes with a 139-horsepower four-cylinder, while the plug-in hybrid model adds a powerful electric motor that bumps power to 180 ponies.
10. 2023 Toyota Crown
A unique addition to the Toyota lineup for 2023, this vehicle is not quite a sedan, but not overly a crossover. It comes with two hybrid options – a 2.5-liter engine and turbocharged 2.4-liter unit – with the most powerful version producing 340 horsepower.
Trying to decide whether you want to lease or buy a new car in 2023? Here are some pros and cons to help you make the call!


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Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
Is Chicago ready for an explosion of Birkin bags and $200 silk ties? Hermès sure thinks the windy city could use a score more silk scarves, as the French luxury house is upgrading their Chicago location by moving it down the street from a small Oak Street townhouse to the comparatively airy former Barneys space.
As of only a few days ago, it has been one year since Barneys New York moved into their new 7-story building at Rush and Oak Streets in Chicago's ritzy Gold Coast neighborhood. They didn't have to go very far; Barneys had been in a smaller building just across the street for years, but despite the recession and Barneys' own money issues, they grew up and out.
Since then, the former Barneys space has been quiet, with the exception of a temporary tenant in Little Missmatched, which sold colorful girls socks from the former Chelsea Passage space.
So does this mean the recession is over? Hermès just opened a large all-menswear store in New York, the first of its kind, and with a glitzier Barneys across the street in Chicago...it might be a clue.
Now don't get your Kelly bag buckled up and ready to shop in Chicago quite yet; Hermès hasn't announced an opening date for the new high-profile location, but we'll keep watch.
· Marc Jacobs Chicago Is Open, Has Good Looking Staff & Stuff [Racked National]
· Hermes moves to high-profile Chicago corner [Crain's]
· The First and Only Hermès Men's Store Opens on Madison [Racked NY]


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ICC Future Trade Forum
OriginBX on the Agenda
The Future Trade Forum convenes business leaders, policymakers, technologists and other industry movers who are shaping the global trade ecosystem into its digital, sustainable, inclusive future. The Forum offers both birds-eye and ground-level views of the evolving trade landscape as well as platforms to engage and act on the key challenges and opportunities ahead. With our advisory networks, industry leaders and multilateral partners in attendance, the Forum will also feature a conference, collaboration opportunities and program launches that will push the digital trade agenda forward.
OriginBX featured on Thursday, 30 March from 4:10 PM to 4:40 PM. Both In-person and post conference video on-demand viewing are available.


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Now, more than ever, we need to celebrate the wins where we find them. And we’re extremely excited to announce that Akero has been shortlisted in the Global Software Innovation category at this year’s Global Digital Excellence Awards (GDXAs).
The GDXA’s celebrate and reward exceptional digital technologies, campaigns and businesses which are thriving despite the current global situation.
Akero was shortlisted for the Global Software Innovation Award for its self-service advertising and planning platform, which combines technology with human expertise, and uses AI to generate bespoke media plans with a guaranteed performance forecast. The future of advertising blends AI with creativity, and Akero was commended for just that.
We’ll find out if we’re the winners at the end of June, so watch this space for the latest news.
To find out more about how Akero can help supercharge your advertising campaigns, get in touch with our experts today.


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How Will the Indian Gov’t Affect Gold Demand? – Metals Focus
Friday November 25, 2016 13:15
(Kitco News) - Analysts are looking for recent gold pressure to trigger physical demand, especially from gold-buying nations like India; however, according to one research firm, the Indian government's anti-money laundering efforts may actually curtail any bullion demand over the short term.
“2016 has been an extremely tough year for the Indian gold market, with regulatory changes and a protracted strike significantly impacting gold consumption. Our most recent data for India bears this out, with total Q3.16 gold demand of around 440t [tones], down 30% y/y,” a recent Metals Focus report said.
“To a large extent, this reflects the Modi government’s commitment of targeting undeclared money, not only in the gold market, but across the wider economy.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken measures particularly aimed at increasing transparency in the gold market, which include announcing an excise duty, forcing gold buyers to declare any purchases over 200,000 Indian rupees as well as the most recent demonetization of high value Indian currency notes.
“Before this [recent] step was taken, the gold trade had been expecting much healthier Q4 sales, given a combination of lower gold prices and the onset of the festive and wedding season, both of which should have boosted sales,” Metals Focus analysts noted. “That said, October did benefit from strong demand. However, the clampdown has since dashed hopes that the October recovery would continue over the rest of Q4.”
What’s more, the analysts expect the jewelry business in India to remain under pressure over the next four to six months, “as consumers remain cautious in terms of their spending habits and also because of the potential for further action against undeclared money.”
“Metals Focus therefore estimates that the government’s clampdown may eventually see a permanent loss of some 100-150t of gold demand (annually) as undeclared holders look for alternative vehicles for their funds.”
However, over the longer term, the analysts said they could see the government’s efforts eventually helping the gold market.
“[I]t is also likely that a clampdown on undeclared money can positively affect the economy over the long term, particularly in terms of the benefit to per-capita income,” they wrote.
“As a result, in spite of the short- to medium-term impact on the country’s gold market, taking a longer-term perspective, the government’s stance is likely to benefit the gold industry.”


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Icahn conquers ImClone
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Icahn conquers ImClone
KAI RYSSDAL: Carl Icahn clearly knows a thing or two about business. Say the words corporate raider and he’s the guy most people probably think of. So it’s a bit curious that he woke up this morning as the chairman of the board of a company with no CEO and only one product on the market.
ImClone makes Erbitux, an anti-cancer drug. That’s the only thing it makes. Icahn owns 14 percent of the company. So you can see he’d have a stake in how it’s run. But Ashely Milne-Tyte reports Icahn might have his hands full with this one.
ASHLEY MILNE-TYTE: The problem as Carl Icahn sees it is that the ImClone board has done a lousy job of running the company and managing its blockbuster cancer drug Erbitux. He’s complained none of ImClone’s recent CEOs have any biotech experience. Alex Lash covers the industry for The Deal:
ALEX LASH:“What Icahn has been so adamant about and basically has proved to be this management team’s downfall is that they haven’t pushed more aggressively to maintain Erbitux’s market share.”
Icahn feels Erbitux has lost ground because the company hasn’t been doing enough to promote the drug. So now that Icahn has operating control of ImClone, what can the company and its shareholders expect? Biotech analyst Geoffrey Porges:
GEOFFREY PORGES:“I find it hard to believe that Mr. Icahn really wants to run a biotech company long-term. I don’t think that that’s the way he’s gonna generate a return for his investment.”
He says it’s more likely that Icahn sees a chance to sell ImClone to another company. But only if he can get a rich profit, says Porter Bibb of Media Tech Capital Partners. Drug maker Bristol Myers already owns a good chunk of ImClone. And Bibb says French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis recently made an offer for ImClone, which Icahn rejected.
PORTER BIBB:“If you read into the tea leaves, maybe he is going to play Bristol-Myers off of Sanofi and try to bring both of them back to the table and create a little bit of an auction that would maybe sell the company at somewhere north of the Sanofi offer.”
In which case, Bibb says the sale price could be more than a hundred million dollars.
In New York, I’m Ashley Milne-Tyte for Marketplace.
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Our mission at Marketplace is to raise the economic intelligence of the country. It’s a tough task, but it’s never been more important.
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Generous support from listeners and readers is what powers our nonprofit news—and your donation today will help provide this essential service. For just $5/month, you can sustain independent journalism that keeps you and thousands of others informed.


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Kiwis and tourists splurged a record $11 billion on dining out and takeaways over the last year and on average seven new hospitality businesses are opening every day.
Sales among these businesses were up by 3.6 per cent in the 12 months to March, according to a Restaurant Association report.
The data, crunched by Statistics New Zealand, showed that takeaway shops had enjoyed the best growth, with sales expanding by 5.7 per cent in the year.
That represented a jump of $148 million in sales, slightly ahead of the $138m which the restaurant and café sector grew its revenue by.
There are now more than 17,000 hospitality businesses in New Zealand and there are seven new outlets opening every day.
That was offset by businesses closing but 530 more outlets opened their doors for the first time than shut them for good in the year.
That growth is putting pressure on the industry – which employs 130,000 people in New Zealand – to find staff.
"Hospitality business owners rank their number-one challenge as the lack of skilled employees, followed by managing wage costs," Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois.
"This competition for skilled employees has the potential to drive wage rises in some regions … wages continue to rise beyond customers' expectations of price rises and that's a challenge and balancing act that hospitality business owners face," she said.
Bay of Plenty chalked up the highest spending growth, with consumers splashing out on $592.5m on hospitality in the year to March (up 6.8 per cent).
Aucklanders and visitors to New Zealand's biggest city spent $4.33b on food, drink and takeaways during the year.
That was up 5.1 per cent on the year before.
The association, in its report, says minimum wage rises was a major concern for many hospitality businesses.
The Government put up the minimum wage by to $16.50 an hour from April and is planning to increase it to $20 an hour by 2021.
This would leave New Zealand with one of the highest minimum wage rates relative to average income in the OECD," the association said.
"The main impact will be to improve New Zealand's lowest-paid workers, at the expense of business profits," it said.
"While other industries may be able to alleviate labour cost increases by further
automating their service, the personal connections made as part of the hospitality service offering come with a heavy reliability on labour. Many members are concerned that they will simply not be able to afford the roll-on effect of the increase," the report said.


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LEADING THE DAY: A House copyright bill introduced Wednesday, the Stop Online Piracy Act, is seen as a companion to the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate. It drew swift criticism from public advocacy groups who think it is too broad and could put individuals and companies at risk for writing about or linking to sites suspected of infringement, The Washington Post reported.
Hollywood media companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the bill for targeting “rogue sites” that post counterfeit or pirated content.
Calls for Open Range investigation: Democrats have called for the House to expand its investigation into the Solyndra affair to include a look into Open Range, a company that aimed to bring high-speed internet to more communities. Open Range went bankrupt earlier this month, and was backed by $267 million in federal loans, starting with the Bush administration and continuing under President Obama.
Now taxpayers are on the hook for $74 million of those loans, The Washington Post reported.
On Wednesday, Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) asked that the House Energy and Commerce committee expand its probe into Solyndra to include Open Range.
FCC to vote on USF reform: The Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote Thursday on overhauling the Universal Service Fund at monthly meeting. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski announced his intention to overhaul the plan earlier this month, but was light on details.
Genachowski said that his plan would put $4.5 billion into funds that would bring wireless and wireline high-speed Internet connections into homes that don’t currently have access to those connections. It is not clear how much the chairman’s plan reflects the telecom industry’s own plan to reform the fund.
Sony to buy out Ericsson: Sony announced that it will buy out its mobile phone partner, Ericsson, in the companies’ joint venture, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Electronics. Ericsson will receive a 1.05 billion Euro payment (around $1.47 billion) from Sony as part of the deal.
Sony said in a statement that the deal will allow the company to “rapidly integrate smartphones”into its line of connected consumer devices such as tablets, televisions and PCs. Howard Stringer, Sony’s chairman, chief executive and president, said that the company’s entertainment network services will make it easy for consumers to enjoy a full range of multimedia on their smartphones.
Groupon will cut worst 10% of sales force: Groupon chief executive Andrew Mason reportedly told investors that he’s planning to replace the worst 10 percent of his sales force of approximately 4,800, Reuters said. The move comes as the online deals site prepares for its IPO, while facing questions about the viability of its business plan moving forward.


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511. Alox Classic SD LE 2015
In 2015 the company Victorinox announced a new series of Limited Edition knives. Starting this year, they’re going to release simultaneously three Alox knives in some unusual color every year. Each time the three models will be released:
- Classic SD (58-mm).
- Cadet (84-mm).
- Pioneer (93-mm).
These models will be the same for all runs, but every time in a new color. For 2015 this color is “Still Blue”. So, let’s start: the first model in Alox LE 2015 series is Classic SD!
2 thoughts on “511. Alox Classic SD LE 2015”


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Fiat to close five Iveco plants in Europe
Fiat Industrial will close five European plants of its truck subsidiary Iveco before the end of the year to concentrate production at one German site, the Italian firm's director says.
According to Alfredo Altavilla, plants at Chambery in France, Graz in Austria and Weisweill, Goerlitz and Ulm in Germany will close.
However, the Ulm site is set to be replaced by a centralised production centre.
The closures will affect 1075 employees, Mr Altavilla said at the launch of Iveco's new Stralis truck.
"These are painful closures but they will boost our overall business. We have not however cut our investment," he said.
"When the markets recover we will be ready."
In May Iveco's subsidiary Camiva announced that it would close a plant in south-eastern France. The 171 employees were expected to be laid off.
Fiat Industrial, Italian auto giant Fiat's non-car business, posted a net profit of 207 million euros ($A258.06 million) for the second quarter of 2012, up 93 per cent from its profit for the first three months of the year of 114 million euros ($A142.12 million).
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The biggest U.S. gasoline price surge in years is running out of steam just in time for the start of the summer driving season.Energyread more
Stocks rose on Friday, but notched weekly losses as investors worried the U.S.-China trade war is hurting economic growth.US Marketsread more
The combination of mounting recession fears, bets on a more cautious Fed and a regular uptick in market volatility could spell more losses.Marketsread more
The therapy, Zolgensma, is a one-time treatment for spinal muscular atrophy — a muscle-wasting disease and leading genetic cause of infant mortality, affecting 1 in every...Biotech and Pharmaceuticalsread more
SpaceX has raised just over $1 billion in financing since the beginning of the year.Investing in Spaceread more
An analyst for Ark Invest, which has a major investment in Tesla, says recent drastic price-target cuts by others on Wall Street are missing the big picture.Investingread more
Former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson is seen as the bookmaker's favorite to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.Europe Politicsread more
Apple bought Tueo Health, which was developing tech to help parents monitor asthma symptoms in children, using a mobile app and commercial breathing sensors.Technologyread more
United Airlines will take its 14 Boeing 737 Max jets off its schedule for another month, through Aug. 3, canceling another 1,290 flights.Airlinesread more
Trade could be a big factor for markets in the week ahead, but investors will also be attuned to fresh inflation data and the bond market, which is flashing new worries about...Market Insiderread more
Mississippi is one of several states that have moved to pass new restrictions on abortion this year.Politicsread more
Japanese electronics firm Nintendo has posted its best monthly sales in the U.S. this year, boosted by the simultaneous launch of the handheld console Nintendo 2DS and games Pokémon X and Pokémon Y in August.
Sales of the role-playing video games Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, the sixth generation of the original Pokémon game, were the top two titles in October, selling over 1.7 million units combined in the U.S, Nintendo said in a press release published Thursday.
(Read More: Video game companies hope for abountiful holiday)
Total Nintendo 3DS first-party software sales hit more than 2 million units, the highest since December 2011.
Hardware sales also thrived for Nintendo, as it enjoyed its sixth consecutive month as the best-selling video game hardware maker in the U.S.
U.S. consumers bought over 452,000 Nintendo 3DS video game hardware systems in October, double the previous month's sales and the most units any portable video game system or home console has sold in a single month in 2013. That figure included the 3DS, the 3DS XL and the recently launched 2DS, which is a new 2D-only version of the 3DS handheld aimed at younger children.
(Read More: 10must-have video games this holiday season)
The bumper sales should come as welcome news to CEO Satoru Iwata, who has received flack for the poor sales of one of its latest products the Wii U –the successor to the hugely popular Wii.
After its launch in November 2012, the Wii U sold 1.1 million units in its first five months of sales – compared to 2.1 million sales in the first five months of the Wii's release in November 2006.
Iwata told CNBC in June that the reason for the Wii U's disappointing sales was down the firm relaxing its marketing efforts and failing to properly communicate the strengths and uniqueness of the product.
The U.S. holiday season, spanning over the months running up to Thanksgiving on November 28 and Christmas 25, is an crucial time for video game and console makers, and historically these firms see their highest sales over this period.
Nintendo's strong sales come as one of the firm's competitors in the video gaming space - Sony - gears up to launch its latest console, the PlayStation 4, on Friday.
Sony's PlayStation 4 is set to compete directly with Microsoft's latest game console, the Xbox One, which is set to hit the shops in a week's time.
Nintendo, which created blockbusters like Super Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong in the 1980s, has struggled to adapt to a consumer shift to smartphones and tablet computers.
— By CNBC's Katie Holliday: Follow her on Twitter


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- Comcast said NBCUniversal’s Peacock will hit peak losses in 2023.
- NBCUniversal’s earnings were weighed down by losses stemming from the streaming service.
- Peacock was launched in 2020 and recently surpassed 20 million paying subscribers.
Shell’s fellow executives said Thursday they were optimistic about the streaming service. Peacock added 5 million paying subscribers – its best quarter yet – and the platform now has more than 20 million customers.
Disclaimer: This story is generated from RSS Feed and has not been created or edited by Waba News. Publisher: CNBC


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There are currently 2.6bn smartphone subscriptions globally, and by 2020 this figure is expected to exceed 6bn. With mobiles substantial adoption rate it is somewhat surprising that mcommerce has been so slow to become established in the retail industry thus far.
A recent survey released by Apadmi found that four in five shoppers are keen to start collecting loyalty points through a smartphone app, demonstrating that the majority of customers are open to mobile shopping experiences. In addition, many of these consumers are also happy to share their location with retailers in order to receive personalised and relevant promotions.
The growing movement towards retail becoming mobile-centric is not just due to the increasing demand for customised loyalty offers. It is forecasted by Statista that there will be more than 33m mcommerce users in the UK in second quarter 2016. As mobile is always-on, it often serves as the initial platform for online shopping searches, researching, basket management and ordering or even inspiration for in-store visits and purchases. With consumers already, willingly bought into the idea of mcommerce, why havent more retailers optimised their mobile offering and adopted a mobile-first approach
Read more about the mobile space:
- Five things mobile advertising can teach desktop marketers
- No time on a wait-and-see approach on mobile
- Eight things you need to know to adopt a successful mobile strategy
The same issue can be observed in the adoption of ecommerce as there are many similarities between this and mCommerce. Faced with the inevitable uptake of ecommerce, retailers initially built a separate digital operation to cope with this new channel, however, now omnichannel retail has become the new norm the industry simply cannot maintain working with a siloed approach to buying channels. This is because the consumer now expects to be able to shop anytime, anywhere and on whatever device they have to hand at that moment in time; and as well as this they want the same brand experience no matter what channel theyre using.
Typically, retailers have concentrated their efforts on implementing technology that integrates their online and offline offering, but havent optimised platforms including mcommerce as part of an overall brand strategy. Mcommerce needs to be part of the omnichannel experience to provide customers with a seamless cross-channel brand experience. Consumers no longer differentiate between channels and neither should businesses.
To stay ahead of the curve, retailers need to implement mobile applications which will enhance customers shopping experience while providing pivotal data on consumer shopping behaviour for the business. In the UK alone, 85 per cent of the population engage with their favourite retailers through an app, yet almost three quarters believe there is a gap in the market for better retailer applications.
The consumer appetite is evident, the supporting technology is affordable. Now it is time for businesses to truly embrace the mobile revolution.
Richard Kolodynski is senior VP at iVend Retail.
Meanwhile, Shane Nolan, Google UK & Irelands director of SMB sales, shares three simple steps to ensure your business is mobile-ready.


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Video: Tesla Grapples With PR Nightmare After Battery Fire In U.S.
Page (1) of 1 - 10/03/13||
|By Ben Klayman DETROIT (Reuters) - A video that went viral of a burning Tesla electric car has emerged as a public relations nightmare for the company, analysts said Thursday, as the "green car" maker lost as much as $3 billion in market value two days after the incident in Washington state. Tesla Motors Inc has confirmed that the car caught fire after the driver ran over a large metallic object on Tuesday morning just south of Seattle, causing extensive damage to the front end of the Model S sedan. ...|
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Current Market Prices
Poll - In Your Opinion
Pizza Market Place News
- PizzaRev adds 2 Colorado units plus cauliflower pizza
- Big Tax Savings Ahead with Opportunity ZonesPassed as part of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 in December 2017, “Opportunity Zones” have the potential to provide huge benefits to those who use them.
- Rapid Fired Pizza South Carolina gives away hundreds of free pizzas for opening dayRapid Fired Pizza is proud to host the grand opening of it’s 27th store in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Monday, November 19th, which will include a free pizza giveaway all day for the grand opening.


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US president Donald Trump's protectionist economic policy on global trade may actually present better trade opportunities between Australia and China, according to Brad Chan, founder of government-backed non-for-profit startup incubator Haymarket HQ.
At the Born Global: NSW Gazelles tackling the Asian opportunity forum hosted by Jobs for NSW on Thursday, Chan joked that Trump might be good for something after all. The president's focus on "putting America first" -- even if it means cutting valuable ties with other nations -- presents an opportunity for Australia to strengthen its relationship with China and other Asian markets, Chan said.
At the forum, Jobs for NSW urged startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the state to actively pursue the trade, investment, and market opportunities that exist in international markets, particularly Asia, which will generate economic benefits for the state.
While startups seem to be onto this already, with the third annual Startup Muster report showing that 92 percent of startups are already generating export revenue, former Telstra CEO and Jobs for NSW chair David Thodey said Australia is not thinking globally enough.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro said there is no such thing as a domestic market anymore -- businesses are operating in a global market -- and that startups and SMEs in Australia are in a "perfect position" to offer their products and services to Asian markets.
"Trade exposure can unlock a cycle of productivity, income, and jobs growth, and help businesses of any size meet the challenge of overseas competition," Barilaro said. "Rising incomes, rapid urbanisation, and changing lifestyles are driving consumption changes across Asia and over the past 10 years Australia has entered into free trade agreements which have reduced tariffs and opened market access across Asia."
While cultural affinities make the tried-and-tested US and UK markets more appealing for startups and SMEs in Australia, Chan stressed that Asia is the fastest-growing economic region in the world, accommodating about 60 percent of the world's population, and that Asian markets are displaying a growing appetite for and commitment to investing in new innovative products and services.
China, in particular, is number one in terms of purchasing power, Chan said, and it's already Australia's largest trading partner.
It recently dethroned the US as the world's largest market in mobile payments with a transaction volume of $235 billion; at the current growth rate, China is expected to process $6.3 trillion in mobile payments by 2020.
"There is still a rapidly growing middle class driving consumer spending. The Chinese love shopping," Chan said. "There are tourists coming to Australia during Chinese New Year and going back home with suitcases filled with Australian consumer goods like milk powder, cosmetics, even pillows and quilts."
He added that Australia's reputation as "clean and green" is a distinct advantage in the Chinese market.
"[The Chinese] middle class have shown willingness to pay premium for our level of quality," Chan said. "We can't compete on price with China, so our competitive advantage will be the trust in our quality, our brand, and our reputation."
"I'm fascinated by the recent success of Sanitarium whose Weet-Bix can sometimes sell for AU$50 a box in China. One of the local distributors suggested [they do] a product placement in a TV show in China, and since then, sales have soared."
Chan said China's 400 million-strong population of millennials is one of the most active and aware groups of customers in the world. Whereas before we'd refer to the big Chinese social media platforms as the "Chinese Facebook" or the "Chinese Twitter", those platforms have evolved far beyond their American counterparts, becoming deeply integrated into the lives of China's millennials.
"These Chinese millennials increasingly use online channels to buy everything and often use social media platforms to tell family and friends about a particular brand," he said. "Chinese millennials are spending big and they have access to probably the best bank in the world -- the bank of mum and dad."
Chan, Barilaro, and Thodey all acknowledged the diversity and complexity of Asian markets -- moreover, China is not just one market, it's a range of markets that can be segmented geographically and socioeconomically.
The best way for startup and SME teams to understand the nuances of Asian markets is by immersing themselves in them, Thodey said.
"Whether you're doing business in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines ... you've got to go spend time there," Thodey said. "Don't sit here. Yes, the internet will give you access to new markets but you've got to think about how you're going to get into those markets. You've got to go visit them, build relationships, and build trust."
The importance of founders not being overconfident about their assumptions was also highlighted by Chan. He said startups and SMEs looking to develop an Asian export strategy need to understand the various country-to-country and customer-to-customer differences and not try to cover all of Asia at once.
"I feel that many Australian businesses still have a poor understanding of China and how to extract value from it. There are many examples of large multinational companies adopting the wrong approach," Chan said. "This includes Pepsi [marketing] in China with the slogan 'Pepsi brings you back to life', which ended up being translated as 'Pepsi brings you back from the grave'. KFC's slogan of 'finger licking good' [was understood] as 'eat your fingers off'."
"Then I look at the story of Home Depot, the US version of our Bunnings, who entered the China market back in 2006 after seeing the enormous potential of the DIY market in China. If they conducted their research, they would have discovered that in China, it's a do-it-for-me market -- which means paying others to do the work -- rather than a do-it-yourself one.
"In fact, Chinese culture frowns upon doing work yourself because it's a sign of poverty."
It's also important to note that customer preferences can change swiftly in China, Chan added.
Moving forward, he urged startups and SMEs to start targeting Chinese tourists -- about 19,000 Chinese tourists visit Australia every week and spend almost AU$8,000 per person -- as well as Chinese students living in Australia.
"Over 1 million tourists that come here each year don't just come for the sightseeing. Under the guise of a holiday, there are also sophisticated business opportunities, researching education for their kids, meeting migration agents, looking up properties, shopping and eating, as well as visiting vineyards, golf courses, and roulette tables," Chan said.
"[There are] roughly 2 million Australia-based Chinese consumers right in our backyard. Across all the tourists, residents, and students, there's an opportunity ... to validate your research and test your products with a sample market that's already here.
"I really think Australian companies are missing out by not marketing directly to this growing market segment."
The growing population of people of Chinese background in Australia means startups and SMEs actually have access to the talent needed for successful expansion into China, according to Chan.
"Yes, it's important to train our workforce to be China or Asia-ready, but we could do a hell of a lot better by utilising one of our competitive strengths and something already in our backyard and that is utilising an already Asia-capable, Asia-literate, and Asia-ready workforce," he said.
"We have a talent pool of over 1 million people from the Chinese-Australian community ... these are people who can contribute in a more meaningful way in overseeing the strategic direction for our growth and trade with Asia.
Chan lamented the lack of senior representation of Asians across most industries -- in politics, in corporations, on boards, in the startup industry, and on television.
"Other than those competing on MasterChef, you don't see nearly enough representation of Asians in order to capitalise on our country's potential," he said. "I think this is a huge lost opportunity particularly as China transitions from a commodities to a services industry where face-to-face engagement is needed to win work."
For startups and SMEs in NSW to succeed overseas and generate economic benefits for the state, Thodey said the government, in partnership with the private sector, needs to build "clusters of capability" that businesses can then launch from.
"Government's role is to facilitate an environment for you to be successful, not about handouts. We're about creating new industry, we're about helping people to get up, and that's what we want to do as we go forward," he added.
In August 2016, the Australian government facilitated the visit of four local startups to Chengdu, China, aiming to build a trade and innovation exchange between both countries as part of the Chengdu Innovate initiative, which is a recipient of an Australia-China Council grant.
Overseen by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australia-China Council is the Australian government's advisory and funding body dedicated to strengthening culture, education, business, and people-to-people relations between Australia and China.
The federal government also announced six new Joint Research Centres in April 2016 to address challenges both countries face in the marine science, food and agribusiness, and mining equipment technology and services sectors.
At a cost of AU$5.95 million, the six virtual centres will be funded for three years under the Australia-China Science and Research Fund, which supports strategic science, technology, and innovation collaboration considered of mutual benefit to both countries.
The federal government also chose China to host one of its five startup landing pads, with former Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne saying in February 2016 that Shanghai was being positioned by the Chinese government as a global centre for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.


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Penthouse magazine owner to buy daily deal site JigoCity
September 15, 2011 by Terence LEE
Now, even Penthouse wants to get into the pants of your favorite Groupon clone. FriendFinder Networks, which owns the famous adult magazine, is looking to buy up JigoCity owner BDM Global Ventures for US$65 million, reported Reuters on 12th September.
JigoCity, which was started in America, operates in 20 countries worldwide, including Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and many parts of Asia. While its presence in the Singapore market is small, it claims to have a worldwide revenue of US$600,000 in July and US$1.1 mil in August. The site’s net income is unknown.
This is surely the stuff of dreams. FriendFinder owns an extensive portfolio of adult websites which includes AdultFriendFinder, NoStringsAttached.com, BDSM.com, and many more. Heck, if you’re an exhibitionist, there’s something for you too.
They also own innocuous dating websites of all stripes, including ones for Indians, Italians, Jews, gays, and yes, Christians.
According to Reuters, FriendFinder’s reason for acquiring BDM is so that they tap into markets like China and the Asia-Pacific region.
In return, JigoCity gets access to a massive user base across FriendFinder’s social networks, “some of which already operate in Asia”. And don’t laugh, it claims to have some 484 million users in over 200 countries.
What makes the deal somewhat of an oddball, though, is that JigoCity is vastly different from FriendFinder’s existing portfolio. But according to min online, BDM’s CEO Tony Bobulinski and his top executives will continue to operate JigoCity with its current brand identity, so don’t expect the website to show discounts or advertisements of the titillating variety.
JigoCity ads, however, could appear on harmless sites like ChineseFriendFinder.com and even FilipinoFriendFinder.com, although I won’t be surprised if they show up on the lucrative adult-oriented sites too. Not sure if that’s what JigoCity’s CEO has in mind though.
FriendFinder’s acquisition came soon after it suffered a bad IPO debut in May — one of the worst in recent years according to 24/7 Wall St. From the initial $10, share prices plummeted to around $3 by late August.
But this did not stop the company from betting on BDM. In fact, companies have been busy snapping up daily deal sites like Monopoly properties: The acquisition of JigoCity is just the latest in a string of buyouts and investments in the Asia-Pacific region.
Looks like it does pay to be a clone after all.
Find out more about SGE’s research arm: SGE Insights, providing customized in-depth research reports to help you navigate the business of technology in Asia.
About The Author
Terence LEE - Editor
Terence writes mainly about technology trends and startups in Asia. He believes in crafting smart content: Not just a regurgitation of text, but well thought-out pieces that serve the reader using a combination of data, design, narratives, analysis, and visual impact. His articles have been published on Venturebeat, Yahoo!, Straits Times, Today, and The Online Citizen. He also co-founded NewNation.sg, a satirical news site covering Singapore affairs. Engage him on LinkedIn and Twitter.Read other posts by Terence LEE


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Magnetic Technology Used for Food Testing
By Food in Canada staffFood Safety Research & Development food science
Magnetic levitation was developed with the goal of revolutionizing high-speed rail, creating a fossil-free train. But the high cost and lack of existing infrastructure has made the new trains too expensive to commercialize in North America.
Now, a group of Harvard scientists is putting that same technology to work analyzing the density of food and beverages. The resulting study appeared in the June issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, written by Katherine Mirica, Scott Phillips, Charles Mace and George Whitesides.
Using the same magnetic levitation principle, the study involved an ice-cube sized sensor filled with fluid and with magnets at each end. Tiny samples of food or beverages were placed in the sensor. By tracking the distance the samples migrated through the fluid scientists could measure their relative density – the higher the fat content, the higher the materials levitated toward the top magnet.
So far, the group accurately measured and compared the fat content of milk, cheese and peanut butter, and compared the ratios of polyunsaturated fat to monounsaturated fat in a variety of vegetable oils.
Other technology currently being used to measure food density can be large and expensive, and often requires highly specialized technicians to interpret the results. According to the results of this new study, magnetic levitation could one day offer a cheaper, more practical alternative.
Print this page


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Skoda India showcased the sportier Rapid concept with a darker matt paint at the 2020 Auto Expo. Roughly two years later, the brand is now said to be preparing for the launch of the Rapid ‘Matte Edition’ in India. And the new variant of the sedan is expected to arrive here in a few weeks.
This Matte Edition variant of the Skoda Rapid may come with the darker matt grey paint. Apart from that, it might also get flashy red inserts on the side-view mirror caps, brake calipers, boot lid spoiler, and there is even a red stripe on the door panels. In addition, it could feature 16 or 17-inch black alloy wheels.
On the inside, Skoda is claimed to offer new upholstery in this Matte Edition of the Rapid. It might also feature a darker interior. However, the design of its cabin is likely to be the same as the current model. Moreover, the Rapid Matte Edition is expected to get a flat-bottom steering wheel, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and metal pedals.
In this sportier version, the sedan will be equipped with the same 1.0-litre in-line three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that makes 109bhp and 175Nm of torque. It could be coupled with either a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission.


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CPI rose 0.1 percent in June and is up 2.9 percent over the past year. While the lift to the year-ago rate from energy is expected to ease, inflation pressures continue to build and should keep the core at the Fed’s target.
Moderate Gains in Headline and Core CPI in June
Consumer price inflation came in a touch lower than expected in June, with the headline index rising 0.1 percent. Nevertheless, the CPI is up 2.9 percent over the past year, which is the strongest pace in more than six years.
The multi-year high in the pace of headline inflation can be traced to the sizeable jump in fuel prices over the past year. Energy goods, which make up about 5 percent of the index, are up 24 percent from a year ago. Gasoline prices rose at a more modest rate in June, though, while declining costs for electricity and utility gasoline the past few months suggest energy’s lift to the headline pace of inflation should ease in the coming months.
As we expected, the rise in the core index came in at a “low” 0.2 percent (0.16 before rounding). Core services inflation eased slightly, up 0.2 percent in June versus 0.3 percent in May. The smaller gain stemmed in large part from a sharp drop in lodging away from home, which reversed a three-month run of solid gains by falling 3.7 percent in June. Shelter costs for primary housing, however, continue to rise steadily and propel the core index higher. Excluding shelter, core CPI has still moved up over the past year and is back near the pace that prevailed in 2016. Further gains in medical care, including a 0.4 percent increase in June, have been a key contributor, while deflation among core goods continues to ease.
Back at the Fed’s Target and Likely to Stay
While headline inflation has been boosted by the sharp rise in oil prices over the past year, the core has signaled that the underlying trend inflation has firmed. In May, the core PCE deflator hit 2.0 percent year-over-year for the first time since 2012, and, at 2.3 percent, the core CPI corroborates that inflation is running at the Fed’s target.
Further improvement in the 12-month pace of the core index is expected to slow in the second half of the year since base comparisons are getting tougher now that the slowdown of last spring/early summer is a full year behind us. In addition, the recent pace of monthly gains has slowed from earlier this year, when lingering seasonality likely overstated the upward trend. The three-month annualized pace has eased to 1.7 percent after increasing just shy of 3 percent in March.
We expect to see core CPI, when measured on a 12-month basis, to remain near its current rate through the second half of the year before strengthening more in 2019. Solid consumer spending and minimal slack in the economy point to price pressures intensifying even though we do not anticipate much movement in the year-ago rate of core CPI over the next few months. Broadening tariffs, including the possibility of consumer goods getting hit directly, create some upside risk to our inflation forecast in the second half of the year, however.


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The performance reflects investors’ sudden loss of appetite for the riskiest stocks.
EVs could increase global electricity demand by more than 4,700 terawatt-hours by 2040. That’s more than the current total consumption of the U.S.
The reorganization calls for splitting the commercial business, which includes delivery vans made for Amazon, from the retail side of the company.
The chunky off-road Scout may have been popular with baby boomers, but VW will have some work to do building recognition of this brand with consumers my age.
The all-electric startup is struggling after a blockbuster listing in November, the sixth biggest IPO on U.S. record.
The recall covers 502 pickups from the 2022 model year that were produced Sept. 21, 2021, through April 12, 2022, and marks the first safety recall issued by the EV startup, according to NHTSA data.
Rivian stock plunged after its slow pickup launch. A report that Ford is selling 8 million of its shares has sent the electric-vehicle maker's stock lower.
With more than 600 electric school buses and trucks already on the roads, Lion Electric says experience gives it an edge.
It's the biggest incentive package in the state's history.
The automaker cannot sell any of its roughly 12% stake in the EV startup until a lock-up period for pre-IPO investors ends next month.
The company is ramping up production of its R1T pickup, R1S SUV and EDV electric delivery vans for Amazon but is being held back by parts shortages.
The startup is struggling to meet demand for its pickup, SUV and commercial vans for Amazon. But it has the financial strength to survive, its CEO tells Crain's sister publication Automotive News.
The company also reaffirmed its guidance to build 25,000 electric vehicles this year.
The Illinois manufacturer becomes one of the first U.S. automakers to cite the war in Eastern Europe as a risk and headwind.
The UChicago MBA and first-time CFO faces a multifaceted challenge: a 73% implosion in Rivian’s share price from its peak amid analysts’ downgrades, production snags, missed delivery targets and an embarrassing U-turn over pricing.
The congresswoman and her husband have stopped the practice, her campaign says, but only after trading millions in Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and other companies last year.
Rivian and its rivals keep raising prices either through direct hikes or dealer markups, even as shoppers begin to show strong interests in electric vehicles.
A willingness to consider the electric vehicle maker's direct-sales model helped Georgia land the electric automaker's $5 billion assembly plant.
It's an effort to get the electric vehicle maker's troubled manufacturing operations back on track.
The scarcity of Rivian vehicles, nearly six months after launch, is one of several issues the automaker is likely to address in its next dispatch to Wall Street.
Rivian sharply increased prices on its R1T pickup and R1S SUV, angering preorder buyers. CEO R.J. Scaringe backtracked, but only for existing customers.
In avoiding a full spinoff of Model e, the company will have to simultaneously protect its existing business and innovate like a startup.
The electric vehicle maker's CEO said the company is trying to cope with rising costs of parts and materials, but it erred by applying price increases to existing orders.
The carmaker today set a target for 2 million annual electric vehicle sales by 2026.
Sticker prices rise 18.5% on average.