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Shanghai automaker Aiways to charge into European car market with its upcoming electric SUV and supercar.
The Chinese manufacturer to roll out its electric U5 crossover and Nathalie supercar at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. So, the company’s push into Europe will officially begin in March.
Pricing is promised to be competitive for the U5. With spirited safety and connectivity, the SUV will be offered as a more affordable alternative to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQC and Audi E-Tron.
Coming with powertrain and body structure that are “highly innovative”, the U5 is expected to become “one of the safest” and “most technologically advanced” mid-sized crossover in its quickly growing segment in Europe.
Aiways is relatively new to the game. The company was established in 2017 by Gary Gu (CEO) and Samuel Fu (president). Today it has over 1100 employees who work across its R&D department, battery making and car production facilities. The U5 will be the firm’s first model to get into mass production and sport a close likeness to an electric crossover concept displayed at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show.
Aiways is just one of the Chinese automakers that are eager to conquer some parts of the European market. Yes, its move is the most recent in a series of large-scale pushes by Chinese manufacturers. Last year, Chery Automobile began operating its new plant in Germany, and China’s long-standing largest marque, Haval, plans to commence selling overseas its variety of low-cost crossovers in the coming years.
Aiways also slots in Gumpert Aiways led by Roland Gumpert, the man responsible for the design of the Apollo supercar that broke the Nurburgring lap record. In addition to the U5, Aiways will also unveil at Geneva the RG Nathalie methanol fuel cell-powered electric supercar, which is the first of its kind in the world.
Equipped with four electric motors, each generating 137 bhp and 170 lb-ft of torque, the Nathalie is expected to be capable of hitting 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds and have a top speed of 190 mph. A groundbreaking methanol fuel cell stack manufactured by Danish company Serenergy is said to give more efficient electrical than standard hydrogen cells. It’s also claimed to be capable of providing a range of 530 miles.
Now if you’re curious about the price of the methanol-powered Gumpert RG Nathalie, it’s likely to cost from approximately €400,000 or equivalent to $457,170.


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With winter in full swing, the importance of vitamin D is coming to light! The number of daylight hours is at an all-year low, so ensuring you’re getting enough of the sunshine vitamin at this time...READ MORE
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Xinyi Solar reported record profits earlier this month, not surprisingly prompting bullish talk of extending its plans to expand production capacity this year and next. However, with PV demand in Europe key to its returns, the company has accepted the coronavirus epidemic may have an impact this year.
The government has suggested PV plant operators accept a ‘voluntary’ 12.5% reduction in feed-in tariffs. If developers refuse, policymakers could impose 15-25% cuts, albeit with payment contracts extended five years. The drastic measures are being considered to reduce the cost of the state-owned Guaranteed Buyer body, which purchases all electricity generated in Ukraine from renewable energy facilities.
Ukraine’s favorite solar module manufacturer has posted another encouraging set of returns, after a difficult year in 2018. And Risen – which boasted 6.6 GW of annual production capacity at the end of last year, according to analysts at PV InfoLink – is committed to adding another 2.5 GW before 2022.
With power production up 133% year-on-year, revenues and EBITDA also rose significantly.
Ukrainian energy market reforms are continuing and amid uncertainty about future auction mechanisms and prices, attendees at the SEF Kyiv sustainable energy forum again called out the government for dragging its heels on the legislation. However, there was also evident optimism at the show.
The Ningbo-based manufacturer shipped more than a quarter of the panels it exported in the first six months of the year to the eastern European nation. All the big manufacturers posted rising shipment volumes as emerging markets made up for slow growth in their homeland.
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A while back, a wise newsposter said that the Final Fantasy III PC release could be a precursor to Final Fantasy IV. That handsome fellow was right, as the game showed up on Steam yesterday at the same $16 price point of FF3.
Not only that, there was another surprise today, when Final Fantasy XIII showed up as well at the same price point but on sale for 10% off as of this writing. Say what you will about Final Fantasy XIII (and so will I - I got sucked in after about ten hours and absolutely adore it), but the Steam version is as of right now the top selling game on Steam, and it doesn't even release for another two and a half weeks.
2014 could be the start of a very good run for Final Fantasy fans who are also PC gamers, as the two XIII sequels are also confirmed to arrive by early next year. Type-0 HD is even coming to Steam next March!
The timing of these releases and announcements is clearly tied to Tokyo Game Show, and there is a lot more news from Squenix this week. These two games are on sale right now and that puts them to the top of the queue, though, so keep an eye out for another recap in this space soon.
Active readers of CoN news (and of course, Distant Worlds fans) will already know that there's one more show coming in North America in 2014: Toronto, December 6. That show will be conducted by Arnie Roth, and will feature regular contributor Susan Calloway as a vocalist. Uematsu will be in attendance as well.
With the upcoming list getting thin, it's about time for some new shows to get announced for 2015, and that list is here! On January 31, the team will do two shows in New Jersey, at the Performing Arts Center in Newark. There will be a matinee and an evening show on the same day, and VIP tickets are available that include meet and greet packages. Not only will these shows include Roth, Uematsu and Calloway, they will also feature the first North American performances by Rikki, the original vocalist for Suteki Da Ne from Final Fantasy X. Tickets are on sale now.
In May of 2015, the series returns to St. Louis, Missouri for shows on the 15th and 16th. Uematsu won't be there, but Roth and Calloway will be performing and the composer for Final Fantasy XI, Naoshi Mizuta will be in attendance for the first time. The program will be changed up somewhat, bringing back the Final Fantasy VI character medley first performed for the 20th Anniversary show and two new arrangements from Lightning Returns and Final Fantasy VII. In addition, each show will have two other new additions to the program; the first will add in new Final Fantasy X and XIV music, and the second will add in Eyes on Me and Melodies of Life. These tickets are also on sale now.
The spinoff series from Distant Worlds, covered in our last post, has wrapped up its live performances in America for now, and has just two more upcoming - one in London on Halloween, and one in Paris on November 30th (tickets available now). However, a recording from a previous London performance is coming soon for purchase. It's described as "over sixty minutes of music and a virtually all-new repertoire" performed by a much smaller chamber orchestra. It seems like a digital performance is already available to buy from Bandcamp for a minimum $9.99 purchase, but there's no indication as to what will be different about the new release or whether it will be available only digitally or also on physical media.
Source: Distant Worlds, A New World
Dragon Quest IV was the final game of the series to be released for the Famicom, back in 1990. Since then, it's been released in Japan on the Playstation, and in all territories again for the Nintendo DS, receiving the typical graphical and other enhancements along the way. The game's humble origins but number of remakes and ports would seem to make it a prime candidate for a new mobile release, and that's just what has just happened.
The game tracks closely to the most recent remake, and becomes the second Dragon Quest game released for mobile devices, after VIII. The game is listing in the States at $14.99 for both iOS and Android platforms.
Also, check out that website. So many images.
Source: Dragon Quest IV Official Site
I posted earlier today about Type-0 being localized, and how Square Enix sneaked that news into the end of their announcement trailer for Final Fantasy Agito. None of us were aware, though, that the Type-0 news there was actually not the big one of the day: the company just announced that this game, AWOL for so long, will actually appear on the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
The new version will be in HD, of course, but absolutely no other details have been released, including whether the original handheld version will be localized now, or not. Naturally, this is causing some distress among some who clamored for the original game to be released, as they seem to feel betrayed by the fact that the game they asked for will not be on a console they currently own.
This has been a whirlwind first day of E3, so don't be surprised if more details are yet to emerge!
Edited to add: OK, so I probably should have figured this out from the first post. I guess I was really too quick on the trigger, eh?
Source: Square Enix
Quick E3 update for you all: the headline says most everything. Final Fantasy Agito has been confirmed for iOS and Android outside of Japan; both versions will be free-to-play with IAP - big surprise.
The real big surprise, though, is that Square have finally heard enough of petitions and tweets: Final Fantasy Type-0 is now confirmed to have a future Western release, with localization underway. As yet, there is no further information.
Just a quick one to move you on down the road today. Maybe we'll get more soon!
Source: Square Enix
Theatrhythm: Curtain Call is making a splash with its large tracklist and new game modes, so it's no surprise that this week's announcements are also building interest. The Western release date is now confirmed to be September 16th of this year, a shade over four months away. Possibly even bigger news for you guys waiting for it is the fact that apparently the Collector's Edition, including special packaging, a 3DS case, a lot of music and some collectible cards, will have a limited edition of only 5000. This edition is only available through Square Enix' online store, but it's not clear if that number is only for the United States or all of North America. If you want it, you better get your preorder in immediately.
We've mentioned a couple times already that E3 is on the way; Square is giving a mixed bag before it starts, though. Starting with the bright side, there's a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix. Sure, it's just a trailer, albeit with the official release date (December 2, 2014), but Kingdom Hearts fans will be most intrigued by the end: it's the most specific confirmation yet that Kingdom Hearts 3 is in development, and it talks a bit about what might be included. A couple comments at Kotaku imply that there are a couple frames of what appear to be HD versions of Dream Drop Distance, too.
OK, time for the downside of the E3 news, sorry. The next Famitsu has an interview with Shinji Hashimoto that explicitly states that there will be nothing for either Kingdom Hearts III or Final Fantasy XV at the show this year. In development, sure. Anything worth showing to fans? Apparently not!
Source: Square Enix, Kotaku


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UK Government looks to improve IoT security
In a new UK government proposal, the UK is aiming to ensure that IoT devices are secured. IoT devices, historically have been woefully insecure and have been hard to keep up to date or patch. IoT devices are smart devices which connect to the internet to help our everyday lives, for example, baby monitors, CCTV, TVs and fridges.
The new draft law, which was announced on the 27th January 2020, is made up of three main parts for the manufacturers of these devices. Firstly, it is being proposed that all consumer IoT devices must be configured with unique device passwords (and must not be resettable to a universal default setting). This will protect against people guessing default passwords which have historically been known.
Manufacturers must also ensure that a public point of contact is made available, so that security researchers (or anyone) can report findings and allow any vulnerabilities to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Lastly, manufactures must also state what the minimum length of time will be for the supported security of devices, this will help to ensure that devices are kept up to date, instead of being sold without any update of maintenance support.
Matt Warman, UK Minister for Digital and Broadband said “Our new law will hold firms manufacturing and selling internet connected devices to account and stop hackers threatening people’s privacy and safety.”
The regulation, which was developed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was released after an extensive consultation period was started in May 2019. DCMS stated that the UK government aims to deliver the legislations as soon as possible.


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Hollywood-backed animal rescuer Marc Ching has pleaded no contest to practicing veterinary medicine without a license in a case brought after a Times investigation exposed disturbing practices at his pet store and charity.
Los Angeles prosecutors alleged that Ching, owner of pet food shop the Petstaurant, endangered the lives of sick pets by encouraging their owners to treat them with herbs and diet regimens instead of traditional medicine.
“Just as you wouldn’t want an unlicensed doctor providing medical treatment to you or a loved one, the unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine is just as serious an issue for our beloved animals,” City Atty. Mike Feuer said in a statement announcing Tuesday’s plea. “It is a matter of health and safety.”
Six other misdemeanor charges — one count each of manufacturing and packaging pet food without a license, unlawfully selling products that were falsely advertised, unlawfully selling food that was adulterated and unlawfully selling food that was misbranded, and two counts of false advertising — were dismissed.
Ching, an ex-convict who transformed himself into one of the most prominent leaders in the animal rights community here and abroad, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He also agreed not to make false or misleading statements in promoting his business, the city attorney’s office said.
Ching’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
City prosecutors brought the charges after an undercover operation conducted by the California Department of Consumer Affairs found that Ching diagnosed ailments and prescribed treatments without a license, the city attorney’s office said. The investigation was requested by the California Veterinary Medical Board.
Prosecutors also alleged that the Petstaurant website contained false statements, including unproven instructions on how to treat various ailments, such as skin dermatitis and ear infections.
The charges followed a Times investigation that uncovered years of complaints by veterinarians that Ching persuaded pet owners to ignore prescribed treatment regimens and instead give their sick dogs and cats products he sold at his shop, which has locations in Sherman Oaks, Los Feliz and the Westside.
More than a dozen L.A.-area veterinarians and other pet care providers told The Times that Ching’s actions threatened to harm — and in some cases did harm — pets diagnosed with conditions that included kidney disease, heart failure and cancer. Their accounts dated as far back as seven years.
Five of them said they complained about Ching to the California Veterinary Medical Board, alleging he was practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Ching, who describes himself as a fourth-generation herbalist and nutritionist, is not a veterinarian. The vets said the board took no action at the time.
The Times also exposed troubling financial practices by Ching’s animal rescue charity, the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, which has collected millions of dollars in donations with the help of celebrities such as Joaquin Phoenix, Bill Maher and Whitney Cummings. The news outlet found evidence contradicting claims about the authenticity of some of the gruesome videos Ching shot of animals being tortured and killed in horrifying ways, including by blowtorch, at slaughterhouses in Asia.
In an earlier interview and in emailed statements, Ching and his attorneys said he had always been truthful about his work overseas, the videos were genuine, and he never misused foundation funds or harmed animals.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission accused Ching of making false or deceptive claims that an herbal supplement he was selling could treat COVID-19 and that some of his other products could treat cancer. Ching denied doing anything wrong. He agreed to a settlement in which he is barred from making baseless claims that his products can treat the coronavirus or cancer.


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Hamilton High School’s spirit week, which is taking place from Nov. 8, 2021 to Nov. 12, 2021, encourages students to wear spirit wear and engage in school activities.
Hamilton High School and other schools all over the country have an annual spirit week to celebrate the school and its achievements. Each day of the week, there is a specific theme which students are allowed to follow by dressing accordingly. On Monday, the theme is all about artists and bands. Students can come to school wearing their favorite band or artist’s T-shirt. On Tuesday, the theme is college gear. Students can come to school decked out in their college gear such as T-shirts, hoodies and lanyards. On Wednesday, students can wear clothing which resembles the 2000s time period. For example, they can wear boot-cut jeans, capris, and denim skirts. School has been canceled on Nov. 11, 2021 for Veterans day but on Friday, students can wear all black.
Additionally, there is traditionally a grand football game held at the end of the week which has a theme correlating with it as well. For Hamilton, there will be a rivalry football game on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 against Chandler High School. The theme for this game is “Black Out” meaning that students can wear the color black to the game to show their school spirit. Students are also able to purchase shirts for 10 dollars being sold in the cafeteria and the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation! These can also be worn to the game on Friday. Overall, spirit week is a way students can represent Hamilton and show off their school spirit.


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Bhubaneswar: Continuing its dominance as the No. 1 telecom and digital service provider in Odisha, Reliance Jio added highest number of new mobile subscribers in the state in the month of March 2023, revealed the latest telecom subscriber data, published by TRAI. Further consolidating its position as the most preferred telecom and digital service provider in the state, Reliance Jio added nearly 97000 new mobile subscribers in March 2023, taking its total mobile subscriber base in the state to over 1.41 crores. Overall mobile subscriber base in Odisha increased by 1 lakh to 3.31 crores in March 2023.
In wireline, Reliance Jio, the No. 1 wireline service provider in Odisha, further bolstered its market leadership, adding over 7500 JioFiber high speed home broadband users in the state in March 2023, taking the total number of JioFiber subscribers in Odisha to 2.1 lakhs.
Nationally, Jio also added highest 30 lakh new mobile subscribers and over 3 lakhs new JioFiber subscribes in the month of March 2023.
It is worth mentioning here that Reliance Jio has been rapidly expanding its True 5G network across Odisha and is the first telecom operator to make 5G available in all district headquarters and over 200 cities and towns across the state. By rolling out True 5G services at a rapid pace across Odisha, Jio aims to strengthen its True 5G coverage in Odisha and provide transformational benefits of technology to Jio users.
Besides, hundreds of villages adjoining these cities and towns are now able to enjoy Jio True 5G benefits.
Jio users in all these cities, towns, and villages have been invited to the Jio Welcome Offer, to experience Unlimited Data at up to 1 Gbps+ speeds, at no additional cost. Jio’s True-5G network covers all important localities, tourist spots, educational institutions, malls & markets, residential areas, hospitals, hotels and restaurants, government buildings, and other important commercial establishments in all these areas. In the ongoing IPL season, millions of Jio users have enjoyed the benefits of True 5G, seamlessly watching the matches from the comfort of their homes.


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Uber loses license to operate in London - News of the People http://www.newsofthepeople-ng.com covers every facet of Nigerian Entertainment industry and the world. From News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoops and Games, we serve our readers up-to-date information on showbiz personalities, profiling celebrities and news around them.
A big blow was dealt to Uber today as Transport for London declined renewal of operating license of Uber. By this, the online transport company will cease operations from midnight today. This was as a result of several months of investigations into complaints by stakeholders. Simply put, TfL said the company had not been granted …
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One year ago, restaurateur Ellen Yin and her team made the decision to furlough their employees because of the brewing COVID-19 pandemic and government-ordered shutdowns.
Little did they know that the pandemic would have such a long-lasting impact — 12 months later, many of their employees have not been rehired.
Yin, of Philadelphia’s Fork and High Street, said it was daunting to decipher what the pandemic would mean for her 150 employees across her five businesses. Unemployment compensation does not provide a significant income — and some employees don’t even qualify.
“So all those things create all this pressure, ‘How are we going to manage?’” Yin said. “It feels like an apocalypse to a certain degree.’”
Yin and her team are offering takeout, and the bakery portion of their business has been in strong demand. Still, to this day revenues are only 20% of pre-pandemic times. Yin applied for financial relief through the City of Philadelphia, through the Paycheck Protection Program, and via an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. But borrowing money leads to more stress.
“Now I’m a lot in debt,” Yin said with a laugh.
“And it’s a scary thing to think that there’s so much unknown, so the payback is pretty significant,” she said. “At the same time, we have rent and all these other commitments to pay, and I think our landlords didn’t expect restaurants to be so devastated by this disruption. Some of my landlords were very flexible and willing to give a deferment — which does not help much, but it’s something — and others weren’t willing to budge at all, just telling me to, ‘Pay the rent and figure it out.’”
Prior to the pandemic, one of Yin’s landlords raised the rent so high that when the pandemic hit, she could not afford to renew her lease. Because her contract was ending, she was able to relocate the business to a more affordable location. But Yin was left with very expensive closing costs, plus the price tag of relocating her business.
Yin hopes that she and other restaurant owners will be able to stay afloat with new government funding from the American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion plan includes $28.6 billion in relief funds for restaurants.
Dubbed the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, the relief is modeled after last year’s Restaurants Act. It was advocated by the Independent Restaurant Coalition, an organization of bar and restaurant owners who have fought for government assistance since the beginning of the pandemic.
“I think it resembles for a lot of people a new lease on life for their restaurant,” said restaurateur Tyler Akin, who sits on the Coalition’s Advisory, Leadership, Policy and Governance committees. He was able to get support from Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and U.S. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware.
“It’s been a very long winter for a lot of folks, and to potentially have this substantial amount of money to help grow back into what we are hopefully seeing going down the pike, at this point it’s like a real godsend to us,” Akin said.
At least 110,000 restaurants and bars nationwide have closed so far during the pandemic, and it’s estimated that the industry has lost more than $219 billion in sales. Nearly 400,000 jobs were lost in December alone.
The grant money will help restaurants cover costs like payroll, rent and utilities, outdoor seating construction, supplies, food, and debt acquired during the pandemic.
During the first 21 days of grant applications, the funds will prioritize women, veterans, and people of color who own businesses. That commitment is applauded by business owners like Ange Branca of Philadelphia’s Saté Kampar and Kampar Kitchen.
“I do know statistically, people of color tend not to apply for loans or grants, because they don’t think they will get it. I’ve felt that way before, I still feel that way sometimes,” she said. “And for women too, we tend not to ask for loans and grants. Sometimes we will try, but deep inside we always know we won’t get it, or we will be last in line to get it. It gives me more confidence and hope that I will get something.”
Of the $28.6 billion, $5 billion is dedicated to restaurants that grossed under $500,000 in 2019.
“I’ve had my restaurant for 20 something years and I’m in for the long run, but there are lots of people who are smaller operators who haven’t been able to access anything,” said Yin, who also was involved in the Independent Restaurant Coalition.
“My hope is some of these small restaurants are able to benefit from it, because they are often the ones that make the fabric of our restaurant community more unique and add so much color to it — also they employ a lot of people.”
Restaurant owners have been able to apply for grants and loans throughout the pandemic. Though they are helpful, there have been problems along the way.
The first PPP program required 75% of the funds to be spent on wages, salaries, and benefits, while only 25% could be spent on rent and utilities. Akin, of Le Cavalier in Wilmington and Philadelphia’s Stock restaurants, said those requirements missed the mark.
“Our leases are often expenses. We tend to occupy prime real estate, not all the time, but in a lot of cases, and because our revenues were lost initially during the first couple months when PPP was taking shape … revenues were off 70 to 100%. So the idea that we were going to have 60% of our previous workforce or something resembling that was not really reflecting reality for us,” he said.
Akin said restaurants also acquired additional expenses associated with the pandemic, including personal protective equipment and takeout packaging.
Restaurant owners have also faced problems with the program called the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which aimed to provide economic relief to businesses financially hit by the pandemic. Business owners have faced issues with caps, long delays, confusing procedures, and communication lapses.
Branca utilized the Paycheck Protection Program, and when she applied to have the loan forgiven, she was told that she would have to repay the $10,000 she received from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which is a separate Small Business Administration program.
“I was shocked, because I thought it was a grant and I used that grant to sustain my business after we closed. We had a lot of closing costs,” she said.
After Branca complained to her federal lawmakers, legislation was passed to revive the program. Part of the legislation clears up problems for PPP borrowers who took relief from the EIDL program.
Funding for the future
The pandemic had a huge financial toll on Branca. She had to close her 5-year-old Malaysian restaurant Saté Kampar in June because she could not afford the rent increase that was previously agreed upon before the pandemic.
“It was so hard for me the day I had to decide to close the restaurant. I spent so much of my savings building that restaurant from scratch. It wasn’t a restaurant before, so we invested a lot of money into it to build the kitchen, to get the gas coming in, to update the wiring, and turn it into a restaurant,” Branca said.
“So to close that only within a little under five years was a big hit. Obviously, my whole investment into building the space is gone, and it was really hard to walk away knowing I would never get that money back, and I didn’t know what was going to happen next and I didn’t know what to do next.”
After closing the restaurant, Branca started a new venture by opening pop-up restaurants in Philadelphia. This year, she started a new business that’s been described as a “chef incubator.” Every day at Kampar Kitchen, a different chef creates meals at a large kitchen space in the Bok Building in South Philly.
One of Branca’s top priorities has been giving diverse restaurateurs and small business owners a platform to create their dishes.
“They are the ones most affected, because from a statistical standpoint, small businesses do have less access to capital and funding, people of color have less access to capital and funding,” she said.
“Every one of the chefs on our platform realized one thing: We can’t do it by ourselves. So we all come together, we are leveraging the whole idea that a rising tide raises all ships. When we are all on the same platform unanimously talking about how diverse our cuisine is, how different we are, and yet we are working together to bring back our food industry. This voice is louder than any one of us individually saying it.”
Branca said that after everything she went through with the PPP and EIDL loans, she’s skeptical about applying for new grants. But she said if the grants really accomplish what’s promised, the money would help her and other chefs immensely.
“It’s not only for me to bring back a business I can run, but also this is a business that supports so many chefs like myself on the same platform,” Branca said. “I want to use it to find a place that we can call our own, a location with a nice kitchen that I could bring more chefs on board, in a neighborhood where I can reach more customers.”
“It would mean that I don’t have to worry every day how I’m going to pay rent … It is stressful because every week, every month, I’m like, ‘Did we make enough sales? Can I afford to pay rent?’” she added. “Now I am overworked, my staff is overworked and my husband is overworked, because we’re trying to do so much to bring this business back [with fewer staff.]”
Jezabel Careaga, who owns Argentinian cafe Jezabel’s in West Philadelphia, said she’s making plans for the future of the restaurant industry by redesigning her business in a way that’s sustainable.
Her business has been able to survive through the pandemic by shipping dulce de leche confections known as alfajores across the country. Soon, her business will start offering bake-at-home empanada kits.
Before the pandemic, Jezabel’s was primarily a dine-in cafe. Now, the focus is on takeout and e-commerce. In order to reinvent her business, Careaga had to invest in a delivery van and other equipment, on human resources, and hire new people.
“This is not just like, ‘Get money and go back to normal.’ I don’t think that’s the right way to do things. If we want to make a change and do better by our community, I think we need to have a deeper look into how we want to do things going forward,” Careaga said.
“What business decisions do I need to take so my revenue every month meets a certain number and I know I can take care of the people and assistants I need in order to survive?” she added.
Receiving more federal relief would fund those changes, and bring her peace of mind.
“I think in a way, this is not taking care of me personally, but this is taking care of my business, and I don’t have to stress about another thing again. Stressing about money is really plexing on your mind and body,” Careaga said.
Akin wants to improve his restaurant’s HVAC capacity, expand his menu, which had to be reduced drastically because of limited resources, give raises, and expand benefits to employees.
He hopes the relief will not only benefit restaurant owners but also their vendors since lost revenue at restaurants also trickled down to them.
“Whether it’s the actual food purveyors like butchers, and farmers, and produce companies, fishmongers, or even linen companies and such, a lot of those folks have been carrying the bag for the restaurant industry throughout this episode, and we look at this relief program as a way to make that whole ecosystem, that whole supply chain, healthy again,” he said.
Careaga said the future of the restaurant industry is uncertain, but she doesn’t believe it will look anything like it did pre-pandemic.
“I think people will still go out to restaurants, but maybe people are not going to bother as much in larger groups. That’s my belief,” she said. “I think things will shift, maybe not so much just going to a restaurant, but maybe going outdoors, maybe doing a picnic to go, or maybe restaurants will focus more on having an outdoor space.”
Branca said she hopes that the focus on the struggling restaurant industry will encourage big changes to the business model.
“The way it was before was unsustainable. Restaurant workers historically have been the cheapest labor and the hours have been ridiculously long, and the margins for the business owner is so slim. So, the whole industry has become one where the workers are disadvantaged, as well as restaurant owners,” she said.
“In a model like that, you will find that the restaurant that has the biggest market share are the ones that will succeed, and the small businesses will find it very difficult to thrive in that model. So as a small business owner, why would I want that? I want it to be different now.”
WHYY is one of over 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push towards economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.
Get daily updates from WHYY News!


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We’re still not all that big on suffering fools gladly, and we’re certainly not keen on suffering fools with billions of bucks to waste.
Like AOL. We previously described the doomed efforts in “convergent” television. (See the entire MogulWatch report.) TV Crossover Links kind of work. Everything else doesn’t, because overlaying the Web on a television program drives people nuts.
So it is in the increasingly-entrenched NUblog tradition of schadenfreude that we report on the first press reaction to AOLTV, the WebTV-killer by the Internet for Dummies.
Reaction to AOLTV sums up convergent television in a nutshell: Nobody wants it and it doesn’t work.
- Mike Langberg:
- “[I]t’s hard to believe AOL has much confidence in the product when the AOLTV Web site hasn’t been updated in months. As of mid-November, the site loudly promises, ‘AOLTV will be available in select markets starting in June 2000.’ ”
- “AOL expects users to pay through the nose for the privilege of owning AOLTV. Most current AOL members spend $21.95 a month, or nearly $264 a year. Those members are being asked to fork over an additional $14.95 a month, nearly $180 a year, to connect through AOLTV as well as a PC. That’s a huge amount, far more than is justified by the electronic program guide – the only part of AOLTV that isn’t duplicating what members already get through a computer.”
- “I expect many buyers will be returning AOLTV boxes in frustration when they discover the service doesn’t work with direct satellite (DSS) receivers, such as DirecTV and Dish Network.”
- “The main online menu and IM sessions are presented in semi-transparent on-screen panels superimposed on the TV picture. When you read or write E-mail, however, the TV picture is reduced to a tiny window in the upper right corner of the screen. Web pages are presented full screen, with no TV sound or picture. An AOL representative told me it’s possible to put the TV picture in a window while Web surfing by pressing the Info button on either remote, but that’s an undocumented feature not mentioned in the AOLTV instruction manual.”
- Jared Sandberg: “AOLTV papers an electronic menu over half the television picture. Dive deeper into certain features of that menu to, say, use AOL’s chat rooms, and the TV picture is reduced to roughly one-fifth its original size.... Shrinking the picture has some TV networks up in arms. They fret that it dilutes the impact of their shows and allows too many distractions on the rest of the screen. Some network executives say that advertisers will be equally frustrated. ‘If Chrysler is paying for 100 percent of the screen,’ says Eric Shanks, vice president of enhanced programming at Fox Television, ‘they should get what they paid for.’ ”
AOLTV is a turkey. We hope it becomes a very-well--known turkey so as to scare off competitors with similarly limited imaginations and similarly limited grasp of reality. We need a lot of things online, but TV isn’t one of them. We need a lot of things in TV, but the Web isn’t one of them.
Posted on 2000-11-29


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Humanoid robot "Aiko Chihira", developed by Toshiba Corp., stands at an information desk inside an Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, April 20, 2015. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to achieve a "robot revolution" as part of his growth strategy for a nation that's facing a shrinking workforce and declining population. Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.


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Cereal giant Kellogg’s has lost its court case against the government’s new rules on the promotion of sugary foods in supermarkets.
Kellogg’s had argued the government’s formula does not take into account the nutritional benefits of milk, which is typically consumed with cereal at breakfast.
However, a ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice sided with the government.
The food titan had argued milk is eaten with cereal in the vast majority of cases and therefore it should be included in the nutritional calculations that determine whether a product is too unhealthy to be prominently displayed.
Under upcoming regulations, retailers will face restrictions on food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) in England. The new rules come as part of ministers’ bid to tackle childhood obesity.
Some items – including Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes and Fruit and Fibre – will be banned from being on display in store areas such as check outs, entrances, aisle ends. There will also be restrictions with displaying products online too.
While the rules were supposed to fully launch in October, the government has delayed them by a year as it looks into the impact of the cost of living crisis.
Kellogg UK managing director, Chris Silcock, said the firm was “disappointed” that the court upheld the government’s approach.
“It makes little sense to us that consumers will be able to buy other products, like donuts and chocolate spreads, on promotion – but not many types of breakfast cereals,” he added.
However, the company said it did not intend to appeal the court’s ruling.
It had told the court that it was set to lose up to £113m in sales should the restrictions come into force in their current form.
In the judgement, Justice Linden said he accepted “breakfast cereals are typically consumed with milk and are marketed and presented on this basis.”
However, he said this was “not invariably the case.”
He added: “They may be eaten dry or with liquids other than milk – e.g. yoghurt, juice or water – or with non-dairy milk or dairy milk other than semi skimmed milk. Breakfast cereals clearly are a food and they can be, and are, consumed in a variety of ways and portion sizes.”
At the time the legal action was launched in late April, rivals Nestlé and Weetabix were not planning to lodge similar cases, CityA.M. reported.
However, the government was keen to succeed against Kellogg’s, in an endeavour to deter other food manufacturers from making similar cases for reducing their own items’ HFSS contents, the BBC reported.


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By: JC Pelusi, Market Leader, and Managing Director
The accessibility of big data has already revolutionized the way we do business … and it’s only the beginning.
Gartner predicted earlier this year that, “By 2020, information will be used to reinvent, digitalize or eliminate 80% of business processes and products from a decade earlier.”
As businesses become more sophisticated in the way they manage, store and interpret data, corporate norms will continue to shift. It’s not surprising then that data centers have become key economic drivers—creating new jobs, capital investment opportunities and strengthening surrounding business markets.
In the next five years, the data center market is projected to undergo exponential growth, according to JLL’s newly released 2015 Data Center Outlook. As businesses continue to outsource their IT systems, lease third-party data center facilities and incorporate cloud services, this market will continue to thrive.
Read on for trends affecting data centers and how your business can change its current strategy to align with the shifting market conditions ahead.
Factors Impacting Data Center Market Supply & Demand
Technological advancements and subsequent business practices are having a direct impact on data center supply and demand. Here’s what you should know.
What’s driving demand?
Companies in the transportation and utility sectors, as well as local governments, have welcomed the benefits that come with the Internet of Things (IoT). Luckily, the IoT is still in its infancy. According to ABI Research the “Internet of things market will grow significantly from 1.2 billion business-to-business connections in 2013 to 5.4 billion connections in 2020.”
How does it relate to data centers? IoT is dependent on the data center market offering secure network connectivity and cloud storage for various devices and programs. Disaster recovery and the need for improved cyber security are also key focus areas for IT decision makers.


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Government begins industry talks for second edition of PLI scheme for textiles
The government has begun talks with industry players and could launch a second edition of its production-linked incentive scheme for the textiles industry to help boost manufacturing.
As talks begin for how to tailor the PLI scheme for a potential second round, industry players are making their requests for how to ameliorate the project. “This was the preliminary round of consultations and it is an evolving situation,” an anonymous official told ET Bureau. “Many ideas will come in and we will consider them.”
Some of the feedback from the textile industry on how to improve a potential PLI scheme 2.0 includes lowering the investment and turnover thresholds to make the scheme accessible for more businesses. The scheme currently covers manmade fibre and technical textiles and industry voices are calling for the inclusion of knitted fabrics in the scheme as well as more products including home textiles and made-ups.
One of the reasons that the government is considering launching a second PLI scheme is that its Textiles Ministry has an unused budget of around Rs 4,000 crore following its round of approvals for phase one of the scheme in April. The ministry approved 64 PLI scheme applications with an investment potential of Rs 19,798 crore and a projected turnover of Rs 1.93 lakh crore in the coming five years.
Copyright © 2022 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Taco Bell to Serve Breakfast
POSTED: Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 3:37pm
UPDATED: Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 8:22pm
That bell at the border is now ringing a little earlier.
Taco Bell debuted a breakfast menu today at nearly 800 of its restaurants.
If all goes well, the fast-food chain that brought you the "fourth meal" hopes its "first meal" breakfast menu will appear on store menu boards nationwide, by the start of 2014.


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Russian truck giant launches unmanned transportation
The first unmanned trucks from Russian machinery giant KAMAZ have started hauling goods along the Moscow-Petersburg highway
KAMAZ self-driving trucks will be carrying goods between Moscow and St. Petersburg
The first driverless trucks took to the Moscow-Petersburg federal highway earlier this week to begin carrying freight, Russian truck maker KAMAZ said in a statement during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
According the company, the vehicles, created around the frame of the KAMAZ-54901 truck tractor, are equipped with communication, navigation, technical vision, and incoming information-processing systems, while their braking and steering system, engine and automatic transmission are controlled using an electronic CAN bus.
“In total, four digital freight trucks, as part of a road train with a semi-trailer, will transport cargo between the two cities,” the company’s press release reads.
The vehicles will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week along the 650-kilometer route without stops in other cities.
The trucks will stop only for loading and unloading, for refueling and for vehicle maintenance, KAMAZ said, adding that a test engineer, who is ready to take control in emergency situations, will sit in the cab during the trip as part of the vehicles’ ELR (experimental legal regime) program.
The company is planning to dispense with the presence of an operator in the truck cabin by 2025, when the highway’s bypass around Tver is completed.
“Today KAMAZ is working on a number of projects on unmanned vehicles,” Irek Gumerov, the company’s Deputy General Director, said. “The results of the first stage of the Unmanned Logistic Corridors project will determine plans for the further development of the direction and the schedule for the production of this equipment.”
The project that comes as part of the ELR program on the M-11 Neva highway is being implemented in cooperation with PEС Reliable logistics, Globaltruck and Gazpromneft-Snabzhenie. Starline, Globaltruck Logistic, Magnit and the road operator Avtodor are also taking part in the project.


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ArmA 2 Gets 500% Bump in Sales from Day Z Mod
The mod, Day Z, is currently still in alpha, but that hasn’t stopped sales on Steam from skyrocketing thanks to its popularity. ArmA 2 developer Bohemia Interactive told Kotaku that sales have increased five-fold on Steam thanks to the new mod, and the developers intend to do some “related work” for the next update of the game based on the mod’s popularity.
The mod is the work of one of Bohemia’s employees, New Zealander Dean Hall, who has said the ArmA engine is perfect for what the mod entails and “was begging for a game like this.”
You can check out more information about the Day Z mod at its official website.


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• Forty-four (44) percent of small employers are spending more time at their business today
than six months ago, 27 percent a lot more time. Forty-one (41) percent of those spending
more time are doing so because the slowing economy means more matters to watch or attend
to. Ten (10) percent are spending less time. Of the group spending less time, one-third
blame a slowing economy saying they now have less to do.
• Increased marketing and sales activity is a common strategy to combat an economic slowdown.
However, this proves one of the least frequent approaches small business owners
employ to combat a perceived economic slowdown. For example, a similar number decreased
marketing and promotion due to an economic slowdown as increased it for the
• Over the prior six months, small business owners are highly likely to have become more attentive
to their cash flow and inventory status. Two-thirds now watch their cash flow more
closely with 60 percent of that group attributing their action to a slowing economy. Of
those with inventories, 52 percent have been watching them more closely. Forty-six (46)
percent of those watching inventories more closely attribute their increased vigilance to a
• Twenty (20) percent of small employers have reduced, postponed or cancelled a planned
investment(s) or reinvestment(s) in the last six months, though 11 percent increased plans.
A slowing economy is the primary reason for the curbed investment in over half of cases. An
absence of finance is practically never mentioned as a reason for reducing investment.
• Actions and behaviors stimulated by the economic slowdown or fear of a slowdown seem
to fall roughly into cash, sales/marketing, and banking categories. But owners do not have a
common plan or even an identifiable approach toward the slowing condition.
• Small employers view the current status and immediate prospects for their businesses favorably
much more often than they do for other businesses in the area. A slim majority
think business activity in their firm remains strong. However, a plurality sees business activity
in their area growing weaker.
• Small employers who describe their current business activity as strong are less likely to make
decisions based on a slowing economy than are those who think their business activity is soso
or weak. Yet, owners who experience strong business activity have been hedging against
an economic slowdown and often cite the slowdown as the primary reason for their action.
• Seventy-five (75) percent of small employers watched the actions of the Federal Reserve
Board over the last six months, though 11 percentage points watched distantly. As a result
of the action they observed, 17 percent of Fed-watchers made a business decision. However,
only a net 1 percent of the entire small employer population made an expansionary
decision(s) directly based on action of the Federal Reserve Board.


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Wholesalers have condemned the complex process of implementing systems needed to comply with the new tobacco track and trace regulations.
FWD chief executive James Bielby has warned wholesalers could face a financial shortfall as grants awarded to pay for the required hardware and software may fall short of the true cost.
The major tobacco manufacturers have appointed SGS as the single point of contact for wholesalers and retailers on track and trace. As such, it is responsible for issuing the grants to cover the outlay on hardware, to help wholesalers comply with the new legislation which comes into force on 20 May.
SGS benchmarks a wholesaler’s solution and calculates subsequent funding based on products from technology company Honeywell.
“What wholesalers are finding is that they don’t want to purchase the standard Honeywell system, they want to integrate a bespoke system into their existing one,” explained Bielby. “Therefore the quoted price doesn’t reflect the actual cost.”
Grants are made on a product-only basis and do not cover the implementation of the new systems, or additional costs to operate them.
Time Wholesale MD Sony Bihal branded the process “a mess”.
He said the extra process retailers will need to go through to buy tobacco meant he would have to employ an extra member of staff in his tobacco room at all times.
“The true cost to us will be around £15,000 per year,” said Bihal.
The FWD said it is working to find a resolution to the “complex and confusing” process with regular dialogue between HMRC, SGS and the tobacco manufacturers.
SGS has not responded to a request for comment.


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Following the success of the LG G Flex and its predecessor the LG G Flex2, LG has announced that they’re planning to invest almost $1 billion over the course of two years to build a factory set on manufacturing plastic OLED displays.
Currently only Samsung and LG Display are building and making use of the flexible display, and with LG’s new initiative, it believes many more manufacturers will follow suit, so in order to give them a helping hand, LG is to create a factory to meet the demand it expects from manufacturers in the future.
This new factory, which is to be built in South Korea will be costing the company $908 million over the course of two years. And while it’ll be working on flexible displays for smartphones, LG say it’ll also be able to produce foldable screens not just for smartphones and wearable tech, but for vehicles too.
In a press release, LG Display detailed how much the factory would be able to produce:
The new E5 Line is located at the Gumi Plant in Gyeongbuk Province, Korea, which will produce 7,500 input sheets per month using a 6th Generation size substrate sheet of 1,500mm x 1,850mm. The new line is scheduled to start mass production in the first half of 2017.
LG Display has been pretty keen to show off its flexibility over the past couple of years with the most recent development being a 55-inch rollable display which can be affixed to walls using magnets.


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Apple has consistently been making innovative phones for many years, but it seems as if they have outdone themselves with the release of their latest smart phones: the iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus.
Both phones instantly look different from what Apple has previously put out on the market: the iPhone 6 is significantly thinner but also significantly wider than previous phones in Apple’s lineup, but the 6 Plus is even bigger than the 6 (to give you an idea, the 6 has a 4.7 inch screen, and the 6 Plus a 5.5 inch screen).
If you are concerned at the size of the phones, you’ll be comforted in knowing that both of the phones are improvements over previous Apple phones in that they have flatter and more vivid screens, have faster processors, better cameras, quicker internet connection, and much improved voice quality.
But what’s really unique about these phones is that it is the first time that Apple has introduced two phones at the same time. Before, Apple only introduced their new phones one at a time. That trend has just been broken…and it may it more difficult for you to choose between the two.
Overall, these are two excellent quality phones. With faster internet speeds, a brighter screen, better camera focus and more storage memory, it’s hard to fault these phones.
If there are cons that should be brought up, it’s that both phones have an average battery life compared to what’s out on the market. It should be noted, however, that the 6 Plus has better battery life than the 6. Granted, almost all of Apple’s smart phones on the market will get you through the workday easily enough, but neither of the new iPhones have the significantly improved battery life compared to the iPhone 5. Nonetheless, these are two solid smart phones that deserve some attention from people who are always looking for the next latest and greatest smart phones.


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Scientists from the University of Liverpool have demonstrated the effectiveness of a fiber-based dietary ingredient that makes people feel less hungry and consume less food.
- Large; stout; burly.


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AUGUSTA, Maine — The small retail space, just off Damariscotta’s main business street, has been home to everything from an office supply business to a kitchen design showroom. It has been transformed again, and will soon be one of Maine’s first retail marijuana stores.
It’s a sign that for Mainers who want to buy marijuana and pot products in a store, the wait is almost over. Waiting nearly done for the building owner, and co-owner of Coastal Cannabis, Dace Page.
"We’re just waiting for our permanent license from the state of Maine,” Page said Thursday.
Maine residents voted four years ago to allow recreational or “adult use” marijuana sales. The head of the state agency that’s been creating the rules and the systems to run the program says they are just about ready.
“We will make a formal announcement hopefully this month later this month.” Said Erik Gundersen, executive di9rector of the state’s Office of Marijuana Policy.
“We will issue the first batch of active license of all types -- cultivation, manufacture, testing, and retail sales."
For business owners like Page and huis partner Evan Morrison, it's been a long process. They had to go through the state application to get a conditional license, then wait for the town to adopt a local marijuana ordinance, then get several local approvals before going back to the OMP for a final active license. That’s the process that Gundersen expects will be completed by the end of this month. He said there are 28 businesses in that first group.
All of them, said Page and Morrison, have had to make significant investments, not just fr the actual storefront space, but also for computer systems and special programs to handle the “seed to sale” tracking system that will follow the individual batches of marijuana, so that all is accounted for. They’re also required to have an elaborate security system and the point of sale system to communicate who buys what. Page estimates all of those expenses have cost the two men tens of thousands of dollars each.
Both have been licensed marijuana caregivers, and Morrison still is. They say they know the business well, but the adult-use market brings many changes. Morrison will need a special cultivation license to convert from growing medical marijuana to also growing for adult use, so he can supply the store. The growing process is also carefully controlled and regulated by the state as part of the oversight process. He admits it's all something of a gamble;le, although he’s confident there will be a significant demand for the product.
"There’s always risk, it feels scary for me. I’ve lost a lot of sleep because it’s the big investment and a lot of pieces and there’s a big investment with seed to sale and the testing,” Morrison said.
But sales, he said, should not be a problem.
“I think there’s going to be such demand we will have a hard time getting stuff on the shelves.”
Page agrees. He has considerable retail experience, as well as the marijuana background, and says the growth in caregiver business bodes well for the new licensees, like Coastal Cannabis.
“Demand is very strong (for caregivers) and I interpret that to mean when these stores start to open it's probably going to be even stronger.”
Would-be buyers won’t be able to shop immediately, however. Gunderson of the OMP says giving active licenses will let the retailer finally arrange for or prepare a product to sell, something they cannot do until they have the license.
“That will allow them to move product into the system, get it tested and manufactured, move a wide variety of product onto store shelves, which consumers are looking for. And once we have enough of that moving through the system, we will set a date when consumers can actually go into the stores and buy it.”
That, he predicted, will be in the second quarter of the current state fiscal year—most likely meaning October.


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Stricken electronics retailer Maplin, which has an outlet at the St George's retail park, has called in administrators.
This puts 217 stores and some 2,500 jobs at risk in the UK.
Its stores have been experiencing falling profits as consumers switch to online shopping.
The weaker pound caused by the Brexit vote and problems raising new capital were cited by bosses as a contributing factor to the firm's failure.
Administration means insolvency experts will take over the running of the business and seek to sell off assets to achieve the best deal for those owed money by Maplin.
The outcome for stores and employees is unclear but a significant number of job losses are likely unless a buyer decides to take on the stricken business and retain some of Maplin's 217 branches.
Consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will handle any administration process and subsequent sale.
Graham Harris, the company's chief executive, said: "I can confirm this morning that it has not been possible to secure a solvent sale of the business and as a result we now have no alternative but to enter into an administration process.
"During this process Maplin will continue to trade and remains open for business."
He added that the retailer has been struggling to mitigate the impact of the pound's devaluation post the Brexit vote, a weak consumer environment and the withdrawal of credit insurance.
"This necessitated an intensive search for new capital that in current market conditions has proved impossible to raise.
"These macro factors have been the principal challenge, not the Maplin brand or its market differentiation," Mr Harris added.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill, run by retail billionaire Philip Day, had been touted as a potential rescuer for Maplin.
But talks are thought to have broken down, leaving Rutland no alternative but to call in administrators.
High street chains across the board have been hit hard by falling consumer spending, soaring inflation and competition from online rivals.
"We believe passionately that Maplin has a place on the high street, and that our trust, credibility and expertise meets a customer need that is not supported elsewhere," the chief executive insisted.


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Homeshop18, India's prominent face in the field of e-commerce, was conferred two ET Now Awards - 'Innovative Retail Concept of the year' and 'Retailer of the year: E-Commerce and Online' - at the annual Indian eRetail Awards 2013 held at The Claridges, Surajkund between 15-16 February.
These awards come as an honour to the channel being the best in the field of e-retailing. Homeshop18 stood out among 75 nominations involving over 250 brands.
Homeshop18, India's first comprehensive virtual retail business which sells credible brands to customers nationally, was launched as the country's first 24-hour shopping TV channel in 2008 and became a favourite with almost every household.
It further moved on to launch its customer friendly e-commerce site in 2011, which is now said to have reached a strong loyal customer base of 100 million plus and 20 million plus households in a week. In 2013, it was the first e-commerce player to venture into innovative mobile phone apps for Android and ioS based platforms with their unique 'Scan N Shop' - India's first virtual shopping wall at Terminal 3 at the Delhi airport.
The Scan N Shop platform has successfully helped Homeshop18 become India's pioneer e-commerce player to be present on all virtual retail platforms, from TV to e commerce /dot com and now M-Commerce.
On receiving the awards, Sundeep Malhotra, CEO and Founder Homeshop18 TV and Homeshop18.com said, "It's an honour to receive this award and be recognised for our various endeavours. Initiatives like Scan N Shop are just examples to show how much innovation matters to us as the leading eRetailer. To innovate and to provide the best products to the consumers is what Homeshop18 strives for."
The extremely prestigious Asia Retail Congress and the annual Indian eRetail Awards aim to award and acknowledge leaders and innovators in the retail category. They are open to all retail companies who have implemented innovative technological solutions and encourage the best.


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Falling Deeper Into Debt: Americans Open Credit Card Accounts At Record Numbers
With inflation soaring to 40-year highs, Americans are finding it difficult to make ends meet. As a result, many are increasingly relying on credit cards and personal loans for purchases, and falling even deeper into debt. But according to TransUnion, that’s doesn’t necessarily mean the US consumer is in trouble.
The credit rating agency’s credit industry insights report published last week showed that the total number of credit cards held by consumers surpassed 500 million for the first time on record in the second quarter of 2022, with the majority of credit card holders concentrated across the Generation Z demographic. Separately, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that in total, an additional 233 million new credit cards were opened between April and June— the most since 2008.
At the same time, credit card balances rose 13% in the second quarter as well, marking the biggest annual increase in over 20 years. The majority of new borrowers had credit scores below 600, but according to TransUnion that’s because young individuals are opening up accounts. Despite that, though, analysts say that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “I’m not seeing anything that I would really declare as a red flag,” said TransUnion vice president of research and consulting Michele Raneri.
Simultaneously, the credit ratings agency reported that delinquencies are also on the rise, and nearing pre-pandemic levels; but, that’s still not a major cause for concern, as long as people remained employed. “The strongest indicator of whether somebody can pay their bills or not is whether they have a job,” said Raneri. Latest government data indicates that the US labour market remains robust for the time-being despite other economic indicators pointing to a recessionary period.
“Consumers are facing several challenges that are impacting their finances on a day-to-day basis, namely high inflation and rising interest rates,” added Renari. “These challenges, though, are happening against a backdrop where employment opportunities are still plentiful and jobless levels remain low.”
Information for this briefing was found via TransUnion. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.


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Bloomberg Línea — For Traxión (TRAXIONA), Mexico’s largest logistics group, investments by the manufacturing and services industry amid the nearshoring phenomenon will begin to bear fruit in two or three years, once the opening of new plants and the rearrangement of production chains in the country become a reality.
“Nearshoring started a few years ago, we saw it coming and that’s why we invested in the group,” said Traxión’s CEO Aby Lijtszain in an interview with Bloomberg Línea. “So the big thing is still to come, and we are going to see it in a year and a half or two.”
Lijtszain makes this calculation based on the fact that, for now, companies that have made large investment announcements are setting up operations, especially large automakers, which will start operating in a few years’ time.
One of them is Tesla Inc. (TSLA), the electric vehicle assembler of South Africa-born US billionaire Elon Musk.
According to Samuel Garcia, governor of Nuevo León state, where Musk chose to build the company’s next gigafactory, this plant will represent an investment of $10 billion.
“From my point of view, this is just beginning,” Lijtszain said, and who heads a company that saw revenues of more than 20.32 billion pesos ($1.14 billion) in 2022 and, as he mentions, has grown 20% per year since its founding 25 years ago.
The volume of what could come in investments for companies such as Traxión, as well as for industry analysts, cannot be measured with certainty. For Lijtszain “it is a few hundred (billion) dollars what this increase in industrial activity between Mexico and the United States could imply”.
Lijtszain says logistics services companies such as Traxión have been preparing for years for this phenomenon, starting with USMCA, the free trade agreement signed between Mexico, the United States and Canada, and which is why it has invested some 16 billion pesos ($896 million) over the past five years.
That tranche of investments, he says, has been to create logistics infrastructure to serve its customers who require transportation of raw materials, finished products and personnel, as well as warehousing close to the production and consumption areas.
Nearshoring, he says, with the arrival of companies from the US, Canada and other countries, including China, has accelerated the demand for the company’s services.
However, he anticipates that in order to continue growing, investment should remain at the same level, or increase.
Traxión’s most recent financial report states that the company derives 70% of its revenues from the demand for services from its customers to reinforce its production lines due to nearshoring.
The US-China standoff helps because, according to Lijtszain, interruptions or disruptions to global supply chains, as was seen recently, “makes manufacturing companies nervous”, and they are therefore unable to bring products from their factories, such as automobiles or household appliances, from China.
The truth is that for some analysts, the macroeconomic contribution of nearshoring is difficult to measure and much depends on how the current trade and financial conflict between the United States and China evolves.
A projection by UBS Evidence Lab suggests that for Mexico to benefit from nearshoring, it would have to capture between 25% and 100% of the manufacturing capacity lost to China. This means, says the model, that over a five-year period Mexico would need to expand its export base, requiring investments of between $36-130 billion during that time.
That investment, says UBS, can be of national origin, or foreign direct investment, but it must exist.
In Traxión’s case, says Litzjain, the company will continue to invest its own resources and access debt markets to leverage its growth and also invest in acquisitions around nearshoring.
“With the resources we have between our cash flow generation plus access to debt, we will be able to invest and the company will be able to grow quite well. We plan to channel this investment to issues related to nearshoring and can be both organic growth and possible acquisitions focused on this practice,” said the CEO.


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BY CHIEDZA KOWO
RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya says the US$650 billion injected into the global economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week will reignite demand on the international commodities markets and lift forex inflows from minerals.
Zimbabwe on Monday received almost US$1 billion as its share of special drawing rights (SDRs) disbursed to IMF members to stimulate growth after economies tapered under a deadly slowdown sparked by Covid-19 last year.
Authorities, battling to manage a blazing foreign currency crisis and the depreciation of the Zimbabwean dollar that pushed gross domestic product (GDP) down by 4% last year, welcomed the windfall.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said much of it would be channelled into rebuilding decaying infrastructure, social services and productive sectors. He said the plan was to lay out measures to defend the free falling currency, which has suffered its worst battering in the past few weeks, threatening growth and inflation targets.
But speaking during a well-subscribed Mid-term Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) review webinar organised by the Zimbabwe Independent, the biggest circulating business weekly in the country, Mangudya said an immediate robust growth in international commodities would bolster government’s generally ambitious forecasts.
He said the 6% global GDP growth expected this year would be felt in Zimbabwe as commodity markets open up to absorb the US$650 billion, and placing Harare on track to achieve 7,8% growth.
“The IMF will be releasing US$650 billion in SDR into the global economy on the 23rd next week,” the RBZ chief noted 36 hours ahead of the mega injection, the largest in the global lender’s history.
“So that increases the reserve money in the global economy and it will drive commodity prices. These ones are linked, when you put money in the economy, prices go up because prices have absorptive capacity. The stimulus package in the developed countries is stimulating demand in the world economy. Without money you don’t grow, and that is the context of the global economy. That growth which is there is also mirrored in the Zimbabwe macroeconomic situation.”
The economy had ended the first half on a positive note, with foreign currency receipts increasing by 29,1% between January and June.
In addition, the foreign currency auction system introduced last year helped companies raise US$1,7 billion for importing raw materials and equipment, averting an industrial crisis.
Gold exports are projected to rise this year following several incentives lined up by government to combat smuggling, which will further stabilise the Zimbabwean dollar.
However, so much work still remains.
The commodity price rally could bring about downside risk, with adverse implications on the import bill.
But in the Mid-term MPS, Mangudya said foreign exchange gains from improved exports will outweigh corresponding losses from the incremental energy import bill and cool off a potential threat to the beleaguered currency.
“The immediate impact of this support from the IMF is to increase the foreign exchange reserves position of the country by US$961 million,” Mangudya said in a joint statement with Ncube on Monday.
“This will go a long way in buttressing the stability of our domestic currency. The funds will be used prudently, with utmost accountability, to support the social sectors namely health, education, and vulnerable groups; productive sectors that include industry, agriculture and mining; infrastructure investment covering roads and housing; and foreign currency reserves and contingency fund, to support our domestic currency and macro-economic stability.”
Zimbabwe’s economy relapsed 21 years ago after the land reform programme that began in 2000 that saw the seizure of white-owned commercial farms.
This hammered export earnings.
Lines of credit, including from the IMF have been difficult to get due to an unsustainable debt.


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A widespread confusion hit the testing world over whether people testing Windows 10 as part of the Windows Insider Program (WIP) were eligible for the free upgrade. Microsoft has made it clear that people testing early builds of Windows 10 can continue running the OS post its release in July. But it doesn’t ensure every tester will get a free upgrade to a licensed copy.
This was confirmed by Microsoft's general manager of the operating systems data and fundamentals team, Gabe Aul. He also made it clear that after the OS is released on 29 July, earlier builds of Windows 10 will be provided to WIP members. This is to help with further testing before the general public is gets hold of the licensed copies of Windows 10.
This means that people testing Windows 10 will be running a pre-release version with a less stable build. However, a free upgrade to Windows 10 is possible if they are also using a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8.
"As part of the program we'll upgrade Insiders to what is for all intents and purposes the same build as what other customers will get on 7/29, but that will be just another build for Insiders, and those who stay in the program will simply get the next build after as well," said Aul.
With the Windows 10 Insider Preview (Home and Pro editions) still in use WIP members with a registered Microsoft Account connected to their PC will receive new builds of Windows 10 after its July 29th release.
It is likely that the testing program will stop anytime soon, hence testers can continue running Windows 10 for the sometime. The testers will be moved to a new build each time a pre-release build expires. An ISO provided for these early builds will help them to recover from any significant problems.
If a WIP member chooses to opt out of the program after receiving the release build of Windows 10 post July 29th will have a few options. They can continue running an activated copy of Windows 10 if they had upgraded to an early build of the same from a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8. This also qualifies them for a free upgrade.
However, if they installed Windows 10 from a different OS (example Windows XP or Vista), they will have to switch back to it or buy a Windows 10 license. Failing to do so will eventually lead to expiration and they will no longer be able to use Windows 10.
A Windows icon in the taskbar for owners of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 operating systems indicates that they "reserve" the free upgrade to Windows 10. From 29th July onwards the 3GB file will be available for download and the free upgrade on July next year. According to Microsoft it is also possible to cancel reservations at any time for those choosing to switch to Windows 10.
Users must be running Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) or Windows 8 (Windows 8.1 Update) in order to upgrade via Windows Update. An ISO image from Microsoft will be available for other Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.
This sort of upgrade isn’t possible for the enterprise versions of Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows RT/RT 8.1 releases. Microsoft has said that "Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer". Its availability to users of Enterprise versions are yet to clarified even though rumours say it will happen by September or October this year.


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New figures from VisitEngland show that Brits spent a record-breaking £5.5 billion on day trips across England in August, the highest spend recorded for a single month since the day-tripping survey began in 2011. August also saw the highest number of day trips taken in any month since 2012, with 151 million day trips across England, up 14% on August 2015. The figures bring overall domestic tourism day trips in England from January to August to 988 million, up 14% on the same period last year with spend up 9% to £32.2 billion, both records for a first eight months of the year.
VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said:
“It is fantastic to see that more of us are getting out and experiencing the huge range of quality destinations and tourism products on offer right across the country. England is packed full of incredible experiences that you can only get here and we look forward to continuing to work with the tourism industry to develop England’s competitive tourism offer, get more people out exploring the country and drive growth across all the regions.”
The North East of England saw the largest percentage increase in the number of day trips from January to August compared to the same period last year with 52.8 million trips, up 34%, followed by the West Midlands with 95.1 million trips, up 30%.
On spend from day trips, the East Midlands saw the largest percentage increase, with day trippers spending £3 billion from January to August, up 31%, followed by the South East, up 29% to £5.6 billion. London had the largest spend on day trips with £7.3 billion.
The top journey purposes for day trips were to ‘go out for a meal’ followed by ‘taking part in leisure activities’ including walking, cycling and golf, and ‘visiting friends and family.’
Last month UK Prime Minister Theresa May launched a ‘Tourism Action Plan,’ underlining the Government’s commitment to the continued success of the tourism industry which last year generated £22.1 billion in spending from inbound tourism to Britain and £19.6 billion from domestic overnight tourism spend in England, both record results. The plan also reiterated the Government’s commitment to improving England’s competitive tourism offer through the launch of a three year fund to build world-class ‘bookable’ tourism products that showcase the best of England to international and domestic visitors.


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A 47-year-old California woman has been in a semi-comatose state for weeks after using a Ponds-labelled skin cream tainted with methylmercury.
The woman was taken to hospital in July with numbness in her hands and face, slurred speech and trouble walking.
In the video above: Perth woman is lucky to be alive after giving birth to her baby while in a coma
She was able to respond to verbal commands at first, but she is now in a semi-comatose state.
She was found to have more than 500 times the acceptable amount of mercury in her blood.
Doctors tested the woman’s cosmetics as the source of the poisoning.
“When they got to the face cream is when they noticed it had a very high level of mercury,” her son said.
The woman acquired the Ponds-labelled cream through an “informal network” that imported it from Mexico, officials said in a statement.
"This type of cream is used by consumers as a skin lightener and to remove spots and wrinkles," the statement said.
"The mercury was not added by the Pond’s manufacturer, but by a third party after purchase."
Ponds said in a statement, "We do not use mercury in our products. We take this matter very seriously and work closely with all authorized retailers to be sure products remain intact and safe for use from shipment to the shelf."
"Illegitimate sales, product tampering and reselling are beauty industry issues that deserve close attention and consumer awareness," Ponds said.
Mercury is sometimes added by third parties to creams because the poison stops melanin production, said health officials.
Mercury can enter the nervous system and cause severe damage.
“Once it crosses into the brain, even if you go to the hospital, the medication we have cannot pull it out,” Sacramento Health Officer Dr Olivia Kasirye said.
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Both state and local health officials warned the public to stay away from such creams.
“Sacramento County Public Health urges the community to immediately stop using similar skin creams imported from Mexico due to the risk of contamination with methylmercury,” Kasirye said in the statement.
In California alone, there have been over 60 poisonings in the last nine years linked to foreign-brand, unlabelled or homemade skin creams that contained a less toxic form of mercury, mercurous chloride or calomel, the statement said.


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Ducati's incredible new 1199 Panigale has just been unveiled to the world's press in Milan. The 195bhp, 190kg 1199 Panigale V-twin superbike has an all-new casty aluminium monocoque chassis and the first all-new Ducati engine in almost 25 years.
The fact it starts at the unexpectedly low price of £14,995 for the base model and tops out at the unexpectedly high £23,495 for the 1199 S Tricolore is just the tip of the iceberg...
A significant portion of the additional cost over the base model is for increasing levels of electronic assistance - the Ducati 1199 has options for ABS, full electronically adjustable Ohlins suspension, traction control and even brake force distribution control.
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The customers of Comcast® in select markets have got a free increase in broadband speeds provided residential subscribers with Xfinity® X1 equipment bundle cable and internet services. This is applicable for the customers in Southwest Washington to up to Castle Rock city, Houston, and Portland. Only the customers in the area who choose to bundle Comcast’s cheapest cable packages and internet plans are eligible for the speed bumps.
In addition, how much of a speed increase you may get from the cable provider depends on which internet tier plan you presently subscribe to. For customers with 60 megabits per second internet plans, the new speed is 150 Mbps; for 150 Mbps plans, it is 250 Mbps; and for 250 Mbps internet service, the new speed is 400 Mbps or 1 Gbps.
To get accesses to internet service with applicable speeds, Comcast® subscribers should unplug their respective modems for around 1 minute or reset it using Xfinity® app or X1 voice remote. Further, the subscribers not having the equipment will have to upgrade their present modems to get accesses to new bandwidth from Comcast®. The customers of the cable giant who lease modems are eligible for a free speed boost. Even if you do not bundle the cheapest cable plans with internet, you can get accesses to improved speeds by paying for that.
Note that Comcast® has set a data cap of 1 TB per month, which is applicable for all customers, irrespective of their present internet plans. The cable provider says that most of the subscribers use internet below the set data cap, and that those who do use more data than that should consider subscribing to their unlimited internet service.
When Comcast® first announced about the conditional speed bumps for customers who choose to bundle, there were widespread talks that the company chose to do that to keep customers from dropping cheap cable service in favor of streaming services over the web. However, Comcast® has denied that keeping customers from cord cutting is the intention behind the move.
“This year alone, we have boosted speeds for internet-only customers and customers in packages in more than two dozen different states across the country which added at least 50 (Megabits per second) more speed for these customers,” said Comcast’s Director of External Communications, Amy Keiter. “In a few of our markets, we are also testing different multi-product packages by changing the Internet tiers for various packages we offer.”