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Submit fresh report on compliance of plastic rules by Amazon, Flipkart, NGT asks CPCB
New Delhi: The NGT asked the Central Pollution Control Board on Wednesday to submit a fresh report on Amazon and Flipkart's compliance of plastic waste management rules, a day after the CPCB said the e-commerce giants need to collect the waste generated due to packaging of their products.
Hearing a plea filed by a 16-year-old boy to stop Amazon and Fli pkart from excessive plastic use in packaging, the National Green Tribunal said it is for the regulator CPCB to enforce the rules. Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for CPCB, told the bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel about the non-compliance of plastic waste management rules by the e-commere giants, saying the e-commerce firms need to fulfil their extended producer responsibility under the rules.
They use excessive plastics for packaging but have not registered with CPCB, Shekhar said, adding the companies should obtain registration as brand owner after submitting relevant documents.
Advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, appearing for Amazon, told the green tribunal they will comply with all formalities on extended producer responsibility by June 30. The bench, however, asked them to approach the CPCB and posted the matter for hearing on April 22.
On Tuesday, the CPCB told the NGT that as per provisions 9(2) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, "Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market.
"Amazon Retail India Private Limited and Flipkart Private limited are involved in packaging and selling of other companies' products and thus introducing plastic packaging in the market. They need to fulfil their extended producer responsibility under PWM Rules and should obtain registration as brand owner after submitting proper documents," CPCB said.
Aditya Dubey, the petitioner in the case through advocate Divya Prakash Pande, has pleaded the NGT to direct Amazon and Flipkart to stop excessive use of plastic in


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Android Gingerbread is in the oven, says Google(Read article summary)
Android Gingerbread – the 2.3 iteration of Google's Android mobile OS – could hit phones as soon as the end of this month.
It was the tweet heard around the tech world: On Friday, Google announced on its Mobile Twitter feed that its "cafes are baking something sweet." The post included a link to a picture of a batch of gingerbread cookies, all of them shaped like the distinctive Android logo. And as Google-watchers know, Gingerbread is the code-name for the forthcoming Android 2.3 mobile operating system.
So when will Android Gingerbread hit the market? Here's what we know. The 2.3 OS – the successor to the current Android 2.2 Froyo OS – was originally forecast for an early November launch, although several tech blogs are speculating that Gingerbread will instead be unveiled at the Web 2.0 Summit, which takes place in San Francisco this week.
"The conference features a keynote from [Google CEO] Eric Schmidt and we are hoping he will show off some of the new features of Gingerbread... while dressed as a massive gingerbread man," jokes Marc Chacksfield of Tech Radar. "We've got a feeling only one of the two things we are hoping for will come true, though."

domain: news


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Bitcoin Will Increase Experts Predict: Volatility is nothing new and is one of the main reasons experts say that new crypto investors should be cautious when investing any portion of their portfolio in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin has shown a steady increase in value over the years, like any other cryptocurrency on the market. It stands to reason that Bitcoin investors would be curious about how far it might eventually go.
Unfortunately, Bitcoin’s price is tough to predict and is even more vulnerable to market factors than more established asset classes. But we still decided to ask some experts for their best estimates. It is what they said:
Bitcoin Price Predictions
It was easy to predict a bitcoin price of $100,000 late last year after hitting its previous all-time high in November. With bitcoin’s massive decline since then, the prediction game is even more complicated.
The most dangerous crypto sceptics say Bitcoin will fall to $10,000 in 2022, but a middle ground might say that the cryptocurrency can still rally to $100,000 as many experts predicted late last year, just on a slower timeframe. It is said Bitcoin Will increase Experts Predict.
“Industry-savvy educators predict $100,000 worth of Bitcoin in Q1 2022 or earlier,” New York-based CPA and crypto expert Kate Waltman said in November 2021.
But now optimistic pundits are completely reassessing the crypto industry as major corporations like Nike, and other big brands look for ways to monetize their wares in the digital Metaverse. The rise of Metaverse games, creations, products, and experiences. Increases altcoins’ popularity, which has changed investor sentiment towards Bitcoin (known as the original crypto).
Many experts hesitate to predict a number and date, instead citing Bitcoin’s tendency to appreciate over time. Investors should expect a “fairly sustained” rise in Bitcoin’s long-term value, driven by organic market movements. With $100,000 on the horizon. Predicted Fidelity Investments global macro head Jurrien Timmer last October.
“What I want from Bitcoin is [short-term] volatility and [long-term] growth,” says Kiana Danial, founder of Invest Diva and author of Crypto Investing For Dummies.
Bitcoin is on a bearish sentiment cycle, but the broader crypto market and other crypto asset classes are not. The launch of new altcoins and the hype surrounding the Metaverse will continue to fuel demand for crypto, eventually leading to a recovery in Bitcoin. Bitcoin was the first crypto, but now others have surpassed it in innovation regarding what experts call “Web 3.” Also known as the new blockchain-based internet.
- Viewpoint: Data Analyst and Technical Blockchain Analyst
- Prediction: Bitcoin could reach $100,000 in 2022
The value of Bitcoin in January 2022 is the same as in January 2021, but there is new demand for altcoins that Bitcoin Will increase . There is also an ongoing trend of bitcoin supplies leaving major exchanges (presumably for safekeeping in offline crypto wallets). He later tweeted that a drop below $40,000 could result in a “free fall” in a Bitcoin bear market.
Founder and CEO of digital asset marketing and consulting firm Parallax Digital
Forecast: $307,000 by October 2021 (now surpassed) and $12.5 million by 2031
Post-COVID-19 pressures will fuel interest in crypto and push Bitcoin’s worth above previous estimates, Breedlove said in a meeting earlier this year. Known more as a philosopher among crypto enthusiasts. Breedlove often talks about the broader societal implications of crypto as a more transparent form of decentralized currency, but his price predictions are not accurate.
Major financial organizations have also made their forecasts. With JPMorgan forecasting a long-term high of $146,000 and Bloomberg forecasting a long-term high of $400,000 if the currency appreciates at rates comparable to the past.
Helpful Resources: Stock Archiving Guide
What Affects the Price of Bitcoin
Standard economic factors affect the price of cryptocurrency like any other currency or investment. Supply and demand, public opinion, news cycle, market events, scarcity, etc.
Additional factors affect Bitcoin’s value more than currency or average value as a new and developing asset. Here are some:
Only 18-19 million bitcoins are in circulation, and minting will stop at 21 million. Industry insiders consistently point to this built-in scarcity as a big part of cryptocurrency’s allure.
“There’s steady supply, but growing demand,” says Alexis Johnson, president of blockchain PR and events company Light Node Media.
Other experts point out that Bitcoin is valuable because people value it. “That’s why everyone buys. Because of the psychological aspect,” says Nelson Merchan, co-founder of Johnson’s Light Node Media. It can make it difficult for the average consumer to tell if Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are legitimate. The idea of supply and demand only works when people want something rare, even if it didn’t exist before.
“It almost looks like a scam,” Merchan says of Bitcoin’s origins. Though he says he’s seen his cryptocurrency holdings reach millions at times since they started investing in 2017. He’s also seen them vanish immediately.
“I have a strong belief that if it’s not cash, you don’t have that money because everything in crypto can fall dramatically overnight,” Merchan says. It is why certified financial planners suggest allocating only 1% to 5% of your portfolio to crypto to protect your money from volatility.
One of the main factors driving the Bitcoin price surge is the speed at which new consumers are buying and exploring the cryptocurrency and Bitcoin Will increase.
“Crypto technology is being adopted faster than the first human-adopted Internet technology,” he says. Assuming this continues. The accelerating rate of new adoption could continue to drive Bitcoin’s value higher.
According to digital asset management company Coin Shares, Bitcoin adoption has grown by 113% annually. (During that time, people adopted the internet at a slower rate of 63%.). Suppose people are becoming familiar with bitcoin at a rate comparable to (or faster than) the early days of the internet. In that case, the report says there will be a billion users by 2024 and 4 billion users by 2030.
CoinDesk announced last month that the number of new wallets worldwide increased by 45% to around 66 million from January 2020 to January 2021. Popular cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase says it now has more than 73 million users worldwide. At the same time, Gemini recently released its State of US Cryptocurrency Report, revealing that 21.2 million Americans own some form of cryptocurrency.
In recent months, federal officials have made sure that they pay attention to cryptocurrencies. Industry experts have recently hinted. That what crypto experts perceive as “tough” federal regulation is crucial for Bitcoin’s lagging price. In a recent interview with CoinDesk First Mover, CoinFund Managing Partner. Seth Ginns said that “the Fed went into an aggressive stance. when Omicron began to take action in the US,” raising the doubts crypto may have strengthened as a profitable asset—Bitcoin Will increase leading to bearish sentiment in January.
Crypto regulation raises many unanswered questions. President Joe Biden recently signed an infrastructure law requiring all cryptocurrency exchanges to report their transactions to the IRS. Similarly, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently said that stable coins. A type of crypto pegged to the value of the US dollar, should be subject to federal oversight.
According to an industry whitepaper published by Flourish, a fintech platform for investment advisors, the discussion on regulatory policy is “uneven”. For a relatively new asset class like cryptocurrency, any new regulation can affect value.


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Searching my local grocery stores endless aisles of offerings of food is one of my least favorite things about being an adult, but thanks to the power of ARKit, apps are about to completely change the experience.
iOS developer Andrew Hart teased an early preview of his augmented reality app for retailers on Twitter this week and it looks absolutely amazing. The sleek app can be used to product details while shipping. But the coolest feature is its ability to spatially navigate you through the store to that Tikka Masala you’ve been hunting for.
Prepare to be amazed:
— Andrew Hart (@AndrewHartAR) April 4, 2018
Hart’s demo is part of Retail AR platform that he’s building for his company Dent Reality. The platform is being built on top of ARKit and could be used by grocery stores, museums, shopping malls, airports and more.
Retail AR plans to give customers simple web tools that will allow them to customize the AR experience for their brand. If it works as well as it looks in the demo, shopping will never be the same.


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If COVID-19 has shown us one thing, it is that we need to systemically rethink and rebuild a new food system.
SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB) August 04, 2020
Treasure8, a company systemically working to make quality nutrition accessible to all, often by upcycling surplus food sources, and PA Consulting (PA), the global innovation and transformation consultancy that brings ingenuity to life, announced today they will be working together to reduce food insecurity and create a better global food system.
Treasure8 and the USDA have developed its revolutionary SAUNA™ dehydration technology which is capable of preserving more nutritional value of dried food products than conventionally used methods, and can also upcycle surplus produce and food. Combining these capabilities with global partnerships allows Treasure8 to create systemic change, and since inception, it has led with a mission to create healthier, more affordable, and more sustainable nutrition for the greater public. Now, COVID-19 has highlighted the urgency to make access to affordable, nutrient-dense, disease-fighting and readily available food products on a global scale a reality.
PA is expert in end-to-end innovation, with a strong track record in leading partnerships with start-ups and manufacturers to accelerate new technologies to market. In sustainability, PA works with regulators, brands and start-ups to define breakthrough strategies, develop new circular products and services and deliver more sustainable organizations. From developing ingenious technology that uses renewable paper-pulp and seaweed extracts as effective alternatives to single-use plastics, to leading a manufacturing revolution through circular process design, PA is on a mission to show that organisations can embrace sustainability and achieve long term success. For Treasure8, PA will turbo-boost the scale-up and commercialization of their dehydration technologies and operations, as well as facilitate access to its extensive network of global CPGs, food companies and manufacturers.
“This moment is one that frankly, we have been preparing for since we started the company,” said Timothy Childs, Founder, and co-CEO of Treasure8.
“Our ultimate purpose is and always has been to Deploy Nutrition for Humanity, and so, we’re grateful to have partners that are going to be the perfect fit for us to make Nutritional Security happen in this time of crisis. If COVID-19 has shown us one thing, it is that we need to systemically rethink and rebuild a new food system.”
Added Treasure8 co-CEO Derk Hendriksen, “Any time we have an opportunity to expand our capabilities, we want to take advantage of it. And this is a huge one. PA is an established company with amazing diversity of talent, knowledge and networks, and it's an honor to team up with them to make a difference.”
Wil Schoenmakers, Global Head of Consumer Products & Manufacturing at PA Consulting, added, “It’s inspirational to find a like-minded, motivated and purpose-driven partner like Treasure8. We look forward to joining them in creating the rapid sustainable growth they require to have a positive impact on people and the planet.”
“The world’s food system needs to change. At PA, we are very aware of the urgent need to reduce food waste and increase nutritional security world-wide. We are proud to play our part - bringing ingenuity to life through exciting new collaborations and partnerships - we invite others to do the same.”
Treasure8 is a San Francisco-based technology company utilizing proprietary and regenerative methods to provide nutritious, disease-fighting foods at scale while battling the urgent global crisis of climate change, often by upcycling food waste streams. Through a variety of sustainable and specialized techniques, Treasure8 is able to create ingredients, nutraceuticals and products that are better for the planet, for people, and often more affordable, too. Treasure8 was founded in 2012 by serial entrepreneur and co-CEO Timothy Childs, joined in 2018 by long-time food industry veteran and co-CEO, Derk Hendriksen, and today has helped some of the world’s largest companies reformulate and advance their products. Additionally, Treasure8 has exclusively commercialized the USDA's patented SAUNA™, one of the world’s most powerful dehydration and freeze drying systems. It is backed by the CA Energy Commission, was named a 2019 World Changing Idea by Fast Company, and was a 2018 winner of the US Far West Regional Federal Technology.
We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future in a technology-driven world. As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough use of technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. A global innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 3,200 specialists in consumer, defense and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government, health and life sciences, manufacturing, and transport. Our people are strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists. Bringing Ingenuity to Life // http://www.paconsulting.com
(415) 515 – 8078
Ashley Houk, (US)
Rajmeena Aujla, (UK)


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Range-Right has introduced an Italian-made, high quality hard case aimed at bullpup airgun owners.
Bullpups have exploded in popularity, but many owners have struggled to find a case that not only protects their gun, but suits its diminutive dimensions.
Full-size rifle hard cases are a bit of a waste of space, while traditional gun bags rarely fit, and even if they do, they can result in bullpups sliding around inside.
The new case being imported by Range-Right is expected to sell for around £60. It’s made from high-quality black plastic with dense eggshell foam inside, and four sturdy brass-hinged snap catches to keep everything secure.
Measuring 98cm x 27cm x 12cm, the case accommodates all makes of bullpup even when fitted with a silencer, scope and other accessories.
For more information call 01423 881919 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Silver prices drifted by 0.27 per cent to trade at Rs 55,110 per kg in futures trade on Monday as speculators engaged in reducing exposures.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange,silver for delivery in far-month December traded Rs 150,or 0.27 per cent lower at Rs 55,110 per kg in business turnover of 1,860 lots.
In a similar fashion,the white metal for delivery in September fell by Rs 102,or 0.19 per cent lower,at Rs 53,110 per kg in 1,869 lots.
Market analysts said the fall in silver prices at futures trade was mostly attributed to a weak trend overseas as prospects for an attack against Syria receded,and on bets the US Federal Reserve will start to pare stimulus as the economy improves,reducing demand for the precious metal.
Meanwhile,silver fell by 1.90 per cent to USD 23.08 an ounce in Singapore.


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The next smartphones could be fully equipped, even with theft protection.
Google and Microsoft agreed to add a "kill switch" to the next versions of their phones. It will allow the owner to completely disable the device in case it is stolen or lost.
The feature already exists on the iPhone, and Apple found thefts dropped with the feature installed.
Google is expected to show off the next version of the Android smartphone next week.


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Deep Silver today released ten minutes of never-before-seen, pre-alpha Dead Island: Riptide footage that shows off some new weapons, boats, and some new tower-defense inspired gameplay. Ten minutes!
That's a lot of goods—maybe they're trying to make us forget about the creepy dismembered bikini torso they tried to sell us. That's not going to happen, but we appreciate the effort and the video!
So how does the Dead Island sequel look to you?


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California gains just 5,500 jobs in May; unemployment stays at record-low 4.2%
The California economy cooled a bit in May as employers added just 5,500 net jobs. The unemployment rate held steady at a record low of 4.2%, according to data released Friday by the state’s Employment Development Department.
The numbers reflect a slowdown from April, when the state added 25,600 jobs, according to Friday’s downward revision. Experts cautioned not to read too much into one month’s numbers and said the job market appears strong.
“The economy,” said Robert Kleinhenz, an economist with Beacon Economics, “is on cruise speed.”
Last month, employers added jobs in four of California’s 11 industry sectors.
The leisure and hospitality industry posted the biggest gain, with 7,900 jobs. Professional and business services added 2,500, and the information sector — which includes tech companies and Hollywood studios — added 2,200. The “other services” category, which includes businesses such as equipment repair shops and nail salons, edged up by 300 jobs.
Other industry sectors shrank.
The construction industry cut 2,900 jobs. Employers in the trade, transportation and utilities sector trimmed payrolls by 1,800. Education and health services and the government also saw declines.
Lynn Reaser, chief economist of the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University, said the slowdown in May doesn’t change her conclusion that the economy is strong.
She noted that the state outperformed the nation last month: California payrolls grew 1.8% compared with the same month last year; nationwide, payrolls grew 1.6%.
“Some of this more tepid performance reflects the ebbs and flows of hiring from month to month,” Reaser said in an email. She expects consumer spending to be solid this summer, supported by the tax cuts, job gains and rising wages.
Average hourly earnings in California were $30.52 in May, up 2.7% from a year earlier, according to data from the national Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s a pickup from April’s 2.4% gain, but still far below what many workers would like to see. Consumer price inflation has been running around 2%.
There are challenges ahead, particularly for the state and local trade sector, Reaser said. On Friday, President Trump announced the U.S. would proceed with tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, drawing promises of retaliation from China. Separately, the administration is readying rules to curb Chinese investment.
If a trade war erupts and leads to a slowdown in goods movement, it would hurt the thousands of workers who move goods from ships at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to destinations across the state and beyond.
So far, Kleinhenz said, the administration’s trade policy won’t put the brakes on economic growth. But he noted it appears scattershot and is causing uncertainty among businesses. A full-blown trade war “won’t be good for the U.S. economy in the long run, nor for the Californian businesses and California households,” he said.
Locally, the only region that lost jobs last month was Orange County, where employers cut payrolls by 3,500.
In Los Angeles County, employers added 5,300 jobs. San Diego County saw an increase of 1,800, Ventura County gained 700 and the Inland Empire added 4,000.
Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter
1:45 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional analysis and comment from economists.
This article was originally published at 10:15 a.m.


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The Carousell application is displayed on a smartphone in an arranged photograph in Singapore.
Ore Huiying | Bloomberg | Getty Images
SINGAPORE — Online classifieds business Carousell is on its way to becoming one of Southeast Asia’s next unicorns — start-ups with a valuation over $1 billion — but co-founder and CEO Quek Siu Rui told CNBC the company is focused on becoming profitable over the next three-to-four years.
Carousell last month said it received an investment amounting to $80 million from a consortium led by South Korean tech company Naver, the creator of messaging app Line. Other investors in the consortium included Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund and NH Investment & Securities. That pushed Carousell’s valuation above $900 million.
Regulatory filings and media reports indicated that only a portion of the investment involved the issuing of new shares. Some of Carousell’s existing shareholders including Golden Gate Ventures, Sequoia Capital


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Lithuania will adhere to the European Commission’s advice that sanctioned Russian goods can transit to the Kaliningrad exclave, its Foreign Ministry said, noting at the same time that the move could be perceived as “softening” of EU’s sanctions policy against Russia.
The EC announced the news after weeks of tensions between Moscow, Lithuania and the European Union which tested Europe's resolve to enforce sanctions on Russia.
According to the EC’s guidance, EU trade sanctions should not apply to transport between Russia and its exclave, so long as its volumes do not exceed the averages of the last three years, reflecting “the real demand for essential goods at the destination.”
The transit of sanctioned military and dual-use goods and technology remains fully prohibited.
EU members were tasked with monitoring trade between Russia and Kaliningrad to check for sanction circumvention, such as making sure there are “no unusual flows or trade patterns.”
Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday the previous trade rules, which blocked many sanctioned cargos from transport between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad, were “more acceptable.”
“Kaliningrad transit rules may create an unjustified impression that the transatlantic community is softening its position and sanctions policy towards Russia,” the FM’s statement said.
Kaliningrad, which is bordered by EU states and relies on railways and roads through Lithuania for most goods, has been cut off from some freight transport from mainland Russia since June 17 under sanctions imposed by Brussels.


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The 145th AES Convention, which is being held October 17-19 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, is attracting some new exhibitors and, thanks to a variety of factors, bringing some old friends back into the fold. For some, the location is attractive, while for others, the timing is just right. And some exhibitors, well, they can barely wait to show off their new products.
This will be the first AES Convention appearance for Wisycom, which manufactures its wireless products in Italy. Exhibiting under the Wisycom USA name established earlier this year, the company has been considering the best avenues for expanding its presence in this country.
According to Jim Dugan, president, Wisycom USA, “We anticipate that our attendance at AES will help us to further integrate our brand into the fast-paced culture of the country in addition to establishing relationships with American users. We also feel that the size of the show is ideal for one-on-one presentations to our industry, so much so that I will be using this opportunity to present on a variety of speaking panels.” Wisycom will show an array of products, including a new wireless receiver, still under wraps, that the company will unveil in Europe at IBC, he says.
The location is attractive and a contrast to Las Vegas, where Wisycom USA made its debut at the NAB Show in April, Dugan continues. “New York is where all the major broadcasters are located, so we have the chance to meet with everyone from corporate through audio techs. It’s also home to the biggest live theater market, which is an equally important market for Wisycom, and again means that we will get to meet with everyone in the production chain. As luck would have it, we have people who live in New York and it’s a quick trip up the coast from our office in Washington, DC.”
It has been more than 10 years since Universal Audio last had a standalone booth at AES, according to a company spokesperson, although it was a part of the Avid Partner Pavilion from 2013 through 2014. UA has “something new and exciting” coming, which has inspired the company to once again strike out on its own. “We felt that the high-end, professional AES audience was best-suited to the news we’ll have to share at the time,” says the spokesperson.
Ed Capp, vice president of sales and marketing at Sound Devices, which is at the AES Convention for the first time since 2013, also appreciates that the show is in New York, and co-located with the NAB Show (October 17-18). “We really like the opportunity to showcase our products in New York and meet professional users from many areas in the region who might not get to attend NAB in Las Vegas or other shows further away from their home base. It’s a great benefit for Sound Devices that the NAB Show New York is co-located,” he says.
View From the Top: Bob Moses, AES, Oct. 5, 2017
While Sound Devices stepped away from the AES show to focus on other opportunities, adds Capp, “It’s great to be back. The timing was right for this year’s show, and our product offerings are perfect for the AES mix of attendees from broadcast engineers, musicians, sound designers, VR pros and live sound recordists. In addition, we appreciate the effort AES has made to include production sound for TV and film in the curriculum over the past few years.”
Sound Devices will be showcasing its line of MixPre Series portable recorders/USB interfaces, including a new collaboration within Sennheiser’s AMBEO for VR partnership program, Capp reports. Earlier this year, Sound Devices acquired UK manufacturer Audio Limited, so this will be the first AES Convention for that company’s new A10 digital wireless microphone system.
Meyer Sound, too, is returning after some time away from the exhibition floor, although it has remained engaged with the convention. “We have continued to attend and participate in the seminars and panel discussions which remain part of our ongoing education and training initiatives,” says John Monitto, the company’s director of business development.
This year, Meyer Sound CEO John Meyer will deliver the convention’s Richard C. Heyser Memorial Lecture and the company will be showcasing its new Bluehorn System. “It’s the most linear monitoring system we’ve ever made, and feel it’s perfect for the AES community to experience,” he says, noting that the system’s mechanical developments are also found in Meyer’s Leopard and Lina line array loudspeakers.
The northeast is an important market for Meyer Sound, Monitto continues. “We have many systems in the New York area, along with rental companies and integrators. The theatre and network television markets bring many locally based sound designers to AES, which adds value. We also noted the high attendance at last year’s show due to the alignment with the NAB show.”
Two companies, ALC NetworX and Riedel Communications, are at the AES this year for the first time after previously exhibiting at last year’s co-located NAB Show New York. Riedel, which acquired ASL Intercom in 2016, had its license-free Bolero products on that company’s booth last year, but this year will be in the AoIP Technology Pavilion, according to Joe Commare, marketing manager for Riedel Communications North America.
“Since AES runs a day longer than NAB New York, we thought it important to have a presence on the AES side of things. When the AoIP Tech Pavilion became available, we thought that the perfect opportunity, as Riedel is very active in IP-based broadcast infrastructures.”
Commare continues, “New York is a great location for a show and, really, the only large show in the northeast. We have participated in NAB New York for many years and have always found that to be a good show—and the fall is good timing.”
Bolero, standalone or integrated with Riedel’s Artist Digital Matrix, will be the focus, Commare reveals. “We will also be talking about all of the ways our Artist ecosystem can leverage the various AoIP formats.”
ALC NetworX is exhibiting under its own name for the first time at an AES, says RAVENNA evangelist Andreas Hildebrand, although its networking technologies have previously been present on other manufacturers’ booths and featured in the convention program. “We are promoting the AES67/ST2110-compatible RAVENNA AoIP technology, which has been developed by us, but is implemented by numerous industry partners on a license-free basis,” he says.
“While we originally planned to participate in the AIMS audio demo wall at the AES AoIP Showcase, we took advantage of the opportunity to claim an individual pod in that area. This is a perfect match as the whole showcase is focused on AoIP, presenting the RAVENNA AoIP technology right in the middle of this theme spot.”
The demo rack will be crammed with products from industry partners, he says, such as Lawo, Merging Technologies, Genelec, Ross Video, Archwave, Riedel, Sonifex and others. “Infrastructure permitting,” says Hildebrand, “we may even drop a line to the AIMS AoIP demo wall and run streams across.”
The exhibition floor at the AES Convention is only half the story, of course. The METAlliance (Music Engineering and Technology Alliance) panel is a frequent highlight, and this year, if the stars align, will include the six founding members, award-winning audio engineers and producers Chuck Ainlay, Ed Cherney, Frank Filipetti, George Massenburg, Elliot Scheiner and Al Schmitt. “The topic will be the METAlliance mission statement: to further the art and science of recording music,” says managing member Jim Pace, president of L.A.-based Audio Intervisual Design (AID). “We’ll review our In Session events and other educational activities we’ve pursued.”
Those music production events, held at studios such as Power Station BerkleeNYC and Capitol, can accommodate relatively few attendees and are only fleeting. So that others can share in the sessions, says Pace, “We’ll try to play some video captured at one or more of the events.”
Audio Engineering Society • www.aes.org


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Bunnings UK and Ireland managing director PJ Davis chose the November 3 BHETA Networking Forum at the Ricoh Arena as its platform to outline plans for the rollout of the Bunnings brand in the UK and Ireland.
In a presentation including announcements on timings, strategy and projected spend, Mr Davis revealed that the first Bunnings Warehouse pilot store would be opening in mid-February in St Albans.
The event, the latest in BHETA’s programme of networking forums to be headlined by a key retail figure, was attended by 350 DIY, garden and housewares industry leaders. BHETA members were treated to a comprehensive preview of Bunnings’ plans including details of at least three more pilot stores by the end of June 2017 as the company phases out the Homebase brand, and a further four to six by the end of next year.
Bunnings plans to spend £500m transforming the Homebase business and adding to the estate with new stores. Mr Davis also confirmed that its core proposition would be refocused on DIY, tools and consumables and an enhanced garden offer.
The Bunnings presentation was just one of four informative and thought provoking sessions. CBI deputy director general Josh Hardie provided a fascinating insight into the evolving relationship between business and government in the weeks and months following the Brexit vote. Another highlight of the day was Victoria Neuhofer from FN Neuhofer HOLZ of Austria reprising her very exciting closing speech from this year’s Global DIY Summit in Stockholm all about targeting Generation Y in ways that could engage them in DIY, home and garden.
The fourth speaker was Insight Retail Group managing director Steve Collinge whose presentation was entitled ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution’ and illustrated how breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, driverless vehicles, 3D printing and big data will transform the future. The Forum closed with a Q&A panel session moderated by BHETA chairman Andrew Weiss.
BHETA DIY executive director Paul Grinsell said: “This was a really compelling event and it’s great that BHETA can attract such excellent speakers, so keen to share their plans and insights with the BHETA membership.”


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More than three-quarters of small business owners plan to exit their businesses within the next 10 years, according to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
The report said more than $2 trillion in business assets could be in play over the next decade as 76% of small business owners intend to exit their business activities.
Most business owners (75%) cite retirement as the reason for leaving their business, while a smaller number plan to leave because of stress, to step back from their responsibilities as an owner, or to move to another business venture, the report found.
When it comes to how owners intend to exit their businesses, the most common approach is to sell to an unrelated buyer (49%), while 24% will sell to a family member and 23% to their employees.
The CFIB and other business advocates had long called for tax changes to remove a disincentive to business owners passing on businesses to children.
In 2021, the federal government passed Bill C-208, which allowed business owners selling shares of their business to their child to take advantage of the lifetime capital gains exemption on the proceeds of the sale. Before the change in law, the proceeds of disposition on a sale of a business to a child were taxed as a dividend.
However, C-208 was a private member’s bill that didn’t have the Liberal government’s endorsement. In the 2022 federal budget, the government said it would look at modifying the rules “to protect the integrity of the tax system while continuing to facilitate genuine intergenerational business transfers.”
In the report, the CFIB called on the government to “honour the spirit” of Bill C-208 in any amendments it proposes. It also said the government should simplify the LCGE and increase the amount to $1.2 million.
The report said only one in 10 business owners (9%) have a formal business succession plan.
“It’s essential for business owners to have a well-planned exit strategy. With over $2 trillion set to be in play in the next 10 years and only a fraction of business owners having a formal succession plan, the risks of improper planning can be big,” said Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice-president of national affairs at the CFIB, in a release.
To develop a succession plan, 43% of business owners use accountants, one-quarter (24%) work with lawyers, and about two in five (39%) develop a plan on their own, the report said.
The most important factor for a vast majority of owners looking to sell their business is ensuring their current employees are protected, followed closely by getting the highest possible price and selecting the right buyer who will carry forward their way of doing business.
That said, the most common obstacle for owners as they plan their succession is finding a suitable buyer, followed by business valuation and reliance on the owner for day-to-day operations.
What’s more, the report found that most entrepreneurs are interested in starting a business from scratch rather than purchasing an existing one. In fact, 49% of current business owners started their business from scratch, according to the report.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges it brought also affected owners and their businesses, with 56% of owners saying their business is still making less than normal revenues, 64% still holding pandemic debt, and 77% still under pandemic stress. Almost four in 10 (39%) business owners have modified their exit date because of the pandemic: about 17% have accelerated their timeline, while 22% have delayed it by at least one year.
“Not having a formalized succession plan could result in lost jobs, bankruptcies or loss of stability for the business,” said Laure-Anna Bomal, research analyst at CFIB and one of the authors of the report.


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The passage of the historic GST Bill was one of the most awaited reforms for triggering a revival in the Indian realty landscape. While the move is expected to benefit all stakeholders, 99acres analyses how will the homebuyer benefit from this uniform tax system.
India witnessed one of the biggest taxation reforms on August 3, 2016 – the passage of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill by the Rajya Sabha. The move is touted to be a harbinger of change for the real estate sector which is currently plagued by a myriad of indirect tax issues, both at the centre and state level.
Stressing on the need to have had the GST Bill implemented long ago, Dhiraj Jain, Director, Mahagun Group says, “Currently, homebuyers are under the pressure of two forms of taxes; service tax and VAT on the purchase of residential units when booked prior to its completion. There are numerous components of non-creditable tax costs such as CST, entry tax, customs duty, excise duty, etc. which are duly paid by the developer on the procurement side, which are basically ingredients for the cost pricing of the units.”
All these taxes, together, result in a massive escalation in the price of the final product. Implementation of a uniform tax based system would not only help in bringing down the overall expenditure from a homebuyer’s pocket, but will also induce transparency in the sector.
Here are some of the most direct ways in which a homebuyer will benefit from the implementation of the GST Bill -
Single tax = reduced prices
Roughly, these indirect taxes amount to over 25 percent of the cost of a property. Introducing a single tax could help reduce the overall tax bearing on an individual. Kushagr Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing says, “Now days, there are developers and builders who are constructing projects in different states, specially tier 2 cities and thus have to abide by the state specific VAT laws, service tax and corresponding compliances. The presence of several indirect tax components faced by the developers at present are a major cause that bring tax inefficiency in this sector. A simplified tax structure would mean that property prices would come down considerably, enabling better affordability for people looking for property options in tier 2 and 3 cities.”
The real estate sector has been largely plagued by unscrupulous transactions and fraudulent activities. A comprehensive and uniform tax structure would instil greater transparency in the sector. Ashok Gupta, CMD, Ajnara India Ltd, avers, “A single tax rate across the country will promote fair practices which will further encourage transparency and less evasion in the sector that supports in future growth of demand for real estate.”
Growth of realty
Implementation of GST will basically work on three major elements for this sector - simplification of tax structure, reduction in construction costs and better transparency. Altogether, improved buyer sentiments and reduced cost of construction and purchase are expected to give the required fillip to the otherwise grim market. Deepak Kapoor, President CREDAI-Western U.P. & Director, Gulshan Homz, asserts, “Speaking about its contribution post acceptance, we are predicting a nationwide realty sector growth by almost 15-20 percent, than projected in the course of next 5-7 years. There will be a quick reaction towards the sector by its customers as demand is bound to increase due to reducing costs and improving transparency in the sector that has been making this sector suffer for long now.”
GST Bill is expected to boost employment opportunities in the manufacturing and associated sectors. While this is touted to be an indirect benefit to the masses, it will definitely enhance the buying capacity of a large number of homebuyers.
Explaining the same, Anshul Jain, Managing Director, India, Cushman & Wakefield says, “Being a destination-based, indirect tax aimed at bringing in more efficiency and rational taxes, GST could actually help to lower manufacturing/processing, logistics and distribution costs, which could further revitalize the manufacturing and associated sectors (warehousing and logistics) by making them more price competitive and boost the overall Indian economy. This would definitely boost the PM’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and create more employment. The warehousing and logistics sector, which is essential to raise the competitiveness of India’s manufacturing sector, would be especially benefitted by the GST as it would bring about increased supply chain efficiencies. GST will ensure the abolition of various central, state and local taxes, enabling easier transfer of goods between states, which would give way to larger, centralized and advanced warehouses that would serve as hubs to service various states.”
While the real estate industry has waited for the passage of the GST Bill with a bated breath for a long time, there are still major challenges in the forefront. Neha Hiranandani, Director, House of Hiranandani, elaborates, “The bill treats construction activities as “work contracts” but is silent about guidelines on valuation of land and has kept the sector away from input tax credit. This could mean higher costs for the end consumer. Also, implementation of the bill will not subsume the stamp duty levied by the states, who may increase it from time to time to meet revenue targets thereby pushing costs higher for the buyer.”
It will be important to see what the final rate of GST would be, because if the rate is higher than the existing cumulative taxes, it will certainly be a dampener for the market as it will increase the final cost of an under-construction flat and defeat the purpose of the bill. While the intentions are noble and correct, we feel for the bill to be successful, all states must implement it together and at the same rate, else it will be cumbersome and bring additional compliance on an already strained sector.
Here are a few more experts giving their reactions and suggesting ways to make the bill more effective in the favour of homebuyers –
Niranjan Hiranandani, MD, Hiranandani Communities and Founder and First President, NAREDCO Maharashtra
From a home buyers’ perspective, the key factor would be the GST rate applicable on purchase of residential units. We hope that the GST rate will be moderate, and the transactions get covered under the lower rate schedules.
Arjunpreet Singh Sahni, Executive Director, Solitairian Group
The GST would have been more homebuyers' friendly if stamp duty had also been subsumed into it. Still, in a nutshell, GST is here to transform the growth prospects of the real estate sector by bringing more transparency. Now, the long prevailing gloom of slow demand is just a matter of few more days.
Anshuman Magazine, Chairman, India and South East Asia, CBRE
This bill has been long awaited by the industry. This is a major tax reform for our economy, which will transform India into a single market. Once implemented, it is likely to have a positive impact on the real estate sector, which has linkages with over 250 ancillary industries. Unified taxation will also infuse the much needed transparency into our taxation system.
Vikas Bhasin, MD, Saya Group
The only dampener for the realty sector can be high GST rates. This will counterpoise any possible gains on incremental credits. Also, stamp duty is not proposed to be incorporated under GST and will thus continue to remain as it is at present.
Rohit Gera, MD, Gera Developments and VP, CREDAI – Pune Metro
We hope that the final bill takes care of the homebuyers and does not raise the cost of homes by raising the tax incidence on homes. Stamp duty will continue and there is already double taxation on this. The first time stamp duty is paid on land, then the flat buyers pay Stamp duty on the flat without any credit for the land payment.


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Millennial generation has redefined the concept of Internet shopping, brand image and customer-company relationship. If many businesses are still adapting to the new challenges of consumption, we must take into account the increasing speed at which the changes are advancing, to know that the children of millennials are already here, demanding another way of relating to the world.
“The Alfa generation has not yet left the nursery and is already a challenge for brands and companies shaken by millennials.”
The one that is called as Alfa generation is now in school: born from 2010 and up to 2025, they descend from millennials to which experiences weigh more than belongings. It is the first group of people born entirely in the 21st century, hence its name also marks the beginning of the Greek calendar.
The label is based on the research of Mark McCrindle, an Australian consultant who, in 2005, was already advancing the change that these new consumers are going to create. According to McCrindle, by the end of this generation, in 2025, there will be more than two billion people who will fit into this new way of seeing the world.
Alfa is expected to be the healthiest, most educated and technologically advanced individuals of all the generations that a brand seeks to impact. If users who were born between 1995 and 2009 see the Internet as another tool, we must bear in mind that alpha are less old than the most important social networks currently, such as Facebook or Twitter, with which interaction and speed are part of your DNA.
The impact that this has is reflected in all the fields: to begin with, it will be much easier to draw the attention of an alpha through audiovisual teaching than with textbooks. Research is already focused on these users who do not reach the age of ten, despite the fact that generation Z, the post-millennial generation, has yet to fully develop.
Even so, consumption patterns are already emerging: the issue of privacy, for example, is a controversy for all those who have gone from growing up with a landline to managing various profiles on social networks. However, for these children, who from small can access any information of any person, the limits between the private and the public will be frightening and unnecessary.
The Hotwire agency has conducted a survey of 8,000 parents of these children around the world, 1,000 in Spain, to find out what they expect of their own children in the future. The most outstanding is its use of technology, a gap that the parents (54%) consider insurmountable and that will prevent them from connecting properly with their children from 10 years of age.
An important fact: the performance of these children, hyperconnected and accustomed to contact by unusual chats, such as the private messages of Instagram, Tik Tok or Snapchat, has motivated the last purchase of their parents. 41% of them have directly requested the advice of their children when buying an electronic device.


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There’s no sugar coating it — the first half of the year was brutal for most multinationals. For the first quarter, S&P 500 earnings grew at a 0.7% annual rate, the slowest since Q3 2012. And the second quarter is looking even worse, with S&P 500 earnings projected to fall 4.7% over last year.
The good news is that this environment is great for stock pickers, particularly those who select stocks with strong sales and earnings forecasts, modest valuations and robust stock buyback programs. Apple (AAPL) continues to fit the bill.
Every few months, Apple reveals a new gadget, operating system or app to connect users in new and inventive ways. Since I last covered Apple in April, it has unveiled OS X El Capitan, a new Mac operating system and the iOS 9 operating system for the iPhone and iPad. AAPL has refined its Apple Pay system, updated the Apple Watch software and launched Apple Music, a music streaming service. And that’s not even mentioning the updates Apple has made to its MacBook Pro and iMac computers.
Apple Earnings Proved the Strength of AAPL Stock
AAPL’s most recent quarter was the best March quarter in Apple’s history, with iPhone, Mac and App Store sales leading the way. Apple sold 61.2 million iPhones last quarter, a 40% increase from a year ago. Apple also sold 4.56 million Macs, which marked a 10% increase over last year. Company-wide sales jumped 25% to $58.01 billion, while net income increased 33% to $13.6 billion, or $2.33 per share. This was the fifth quarter in a row that Apple increased earnings.
And there’s plenty more where that came from. Looking ahead to the third quarter, analysts expect Apple to post 29.8% sales growth and 37.5% earnings growth. Forecast earnings growth for the electronic equipment industry is just 0.4%.
Apple also recently reaffirmed its commitment to shareholders, increasing its shareholder reward program by more than 50% to $200 billion. Apple now plans to repurchase a total of $140 billion of its stock. In addition, the board of directors approved an 11% increase to its quarterly dividend. At current prices, AAPL has a 1.6% annual dividend yield.
Taylor Swift notwithstanding, it’s difficult to find anything negative to say about Apple. This gadget giant is successfully selling everything from smart devices to music streaming and payment services. So, despite currency headwinds, Apple is sustaining double-digit sales and earnings growth and breaking company records. Flush with cash, Apple is returning $200 billion into the pockets of shareholders between stock buybacks and dividend payments.
All the while, this stock is trading at an attractive valuation. While the stock has increased nearly 17% year-to-date, AAPL trades at just 13 times forecast earnings. The average forward P/E for the S&P 500 is 17.
Given the company’s continued strength and the impending releases of new mobile devices, AAPL remains my top stock pick for 2015.
Louis Navellier is the editor of Blue Chip Growth.
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China's Regulator Approves Nokia-Microsoft DealBy cheatmaster 03:14 Mon, 19 Jul 2021 Comments
Chinese regulatory authorities have given their approval for the merging of Nokia with Microsoft without demanding change in the Finn's company patent practices. According to Nokia, which has received green light for the merger from the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, the deal should close this month.
In September, 2013, Nokia agreed to sell its phone business to Microsoft for €5.4 billion.
Due to the restructuring of the company, Google and Samsung have expressed their concern for a rise of its patent licensing fees. However, that's not the case, as Nokia has assumed it hadn't been accused of unhonest practices before.
"No authority has challenged Nokia's compliance with its ... undertakings related to standard-essential patents or requested that Nokia create changes to its licensing program or royalty terms," it assumed in the statement.
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GIC and Shinsegae sign $197m Incheon mall deal
Working through affiliates, the companies have signed a US$197 million sale-and-purchase agreement for 59,730 sqm of land for the Incheon mall in the international business district of Songdo, close to a subway station, bus terminal and expressways. Scheduled for completion by 2020, the mall will include entertainment as well as leisure attractions.
Songdo is a new city part of IFEZ, 65km southwest of Seoul, where Shinsegae has its headquarters. The name of Shinsegae literally means “New World”.
Set up in 1981 to preserve and enhance Singapore’s foreign reserves, GIC is one of the world’s largest global investors with more than US$100 billion of assets in more than 40 countries.
GIC and Shinsegae are already working together on developing a prime retail mall in Dongdaegu Station, scheduled for completion in the second half of this year.
GIC last year partnered with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) to acquire the Seoul-based D-cube retail mall, rebranding it as the Hyundai Department Store.


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MacRumors: Apple today notified resellers that it has discontinued the retail box version of MobileMe, shifting entirely to digital sales. Existing stocks of boxed MobileMe can continue to be sold while their supplies last.
Perfect, My MM account is set to expire just after Summer
TechSpy is a community of awesome people posting and discussing the latest tech news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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If you’re looking for some cash and/or support to get your brick and mortar business in Detroit, Highland Park or Hamtramck off the ground, Hatch Detroit might be your ticket.
As last year, the winning business pitch will take home $50,000 from Comerica Bank and a package of accounting, legal, IT, public relations, and counsel from Hatch Detroit and its partners. The contest includes both popular vote and juried portions.
But there’s a new twist this year. Hatch Detroit is introducing a second phase of the contest for aspiring Detroit artists ages 16-18 to submit art concepts after the 2017 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest winner is announced.
The top four artists selected will work with the Hatch Detroit team and its 2017 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest finalists to develop a final product that will be used in their business. The second phase of the contest will open this September.
25 entrepreneurs have opened a storefront, four are opening soon and 20 are operating as pop-up locations through the program. A few of the many examples, according to Hatch:
- Detroit Vegan Soul is opening a secondary location in the Grandmont Rosedale (Daily Detroit story here)
- Detroit River Sports will be opening a location on Detroit’s east side with another Hatch alumni, Coriander Kitchen and Farm, opening a restaurant inside the establishment.
- Norma G’s, a Hatch finalist currently operating as a food truck, is opening a restaurant in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood serving true authentic Caribbean cuisine.
- Rocco’s Italian Deli is opening a brick and mortar deli sandwich shop location on Cass Avenue this spring.


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German analytics firm Shikenso Analytics has established a partnership with gaming peripherals brand Turtle Beach.
Shikenso will provide its AI platform to help Turtle Beach calculate sponsorship performance across an array of online platforms.
Turtle Beach will be able to collect information from live streams, video content, spoken partner integrations, and social media engagements, according to a release.
This includes insights on the brand’s partnerships with popular creators such as DrDisrespect, Skyrroz, Fextralife and Shlorox, with the goal of having data-driven decision making and creating more impactful growth strategies.
Shikenso Analytics is a data analytics firm which offers services including impact assessment of the value of commercial sponsorships in esports. The company recently provided an example of how its analysis can be used to measure the partnerships value with a report measuring the performance of IEM Cologne’s slate of commercial sponsors
Turtle Beach is a gaming-focused peripherals brand which produces headsets, controllers, microphones and more.
Shikenso Analytics has recently struck partnerships with leading stakeholders across the esports industry. This month alone Shikenso has announced deals with sportsbook Pinnacle as well as European esports organisation G2 Esports.
Arwin Fallah Shirazi, CEO and Co-Founder of Shikenso, commented: “Joining forces with a distinguished industry leader in gaming peripheral marks a significant step for us at Shikenso.
“Our sponsorship analytics tools will help Turtle Beach get an even more comprehensive overview of their engagements with their esteemed list of partnered creators. We look forward to providing insightful data and helping contribute to Turtle Beach’s strategic evolution.”


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Google ramps up efforts to collar counterfeit advertisers
Google has today announced three initiatives that it hopes will help weed out advertisers who try to use its AdWords system to sell counterfeit goods online.
In the last six months of 2010, Google shut down around 50,000 AdWords accounts that attempted to advertise counterfeit goods. In what they call a "cat-and-mouse game" Google says it has been constantly trying to improve practices to keep out "the bad guys".
"While our systems get better over time, counterfeiting remains a complex challenge, and we keep investing in anti-counterfeiting measures," said Kent Walker, Senior VP and General Counsel at Google.
"After all, a Google user duped by a fake is far less likely to click on another Google ad in the future."
So, what are these new three initiatives?
- A speeding up of the time it takes to resolve matters reported using the existing Counterfeit Good Complaints Form, first introduced in 2009, to 24 hours.
- Improved identification of websites linking to counterfeit goods (Google does not allow the placement of its ads on sites linking to counterfeit goods).
- New Help Page with information to make it easier for users and brand owners to identify counterfeit users along with forms to enable easier reporting of abuse.
"Ads for counterfeits aren't just bad for the real brand holder - they're bad for users who can end up unknowingly buying sub-standard products, and they're bad for Google too," said Walker.
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Tory Burch is now a billionaire thanks to her recent legal settlement with her former husband, Chris Burch. The deal – which was reached on December 31 – saw the businessman selling an estimated half of his 28.3 per cent stake in the US label to equity company, General Atlantic. The sale is thought to be valued at approximately $3.3b (£2b), making the American designer significantly wealthier.
Burch and her ex, Chris, had battled over whether Chris could sell his shares in the company, which the couple started together in 2003. They divorced in 2006, and Chris went on to found his own company, C. Wonder, which sells strikingly similar ballet flats and preppy clotheas as Tory’s company. Over the course of the last year, Chris accused Tory of “tortuous interference,” and Tory accused Chris of copying her Tory Burch designs. She called C. Wonder “a knockoff brand selling lower-quality products at lower prices.”
New York-based research firm PrivCo reports that Tory’s stake is now worth $935m (£583m), based on the transaction, although her net worth is over $1 billion (£624m) – after the $70m (£43m) made through equity sales and dividend over the past 10 years.
According to Bloomberg, Burch has retained a 15 per cent stake in the brand. He launched the lawsuit against his former wife in October 2012, arguing that she was trying to prevent him from selling his proportion of the brand. The designer countersued, attesting that Chris’ new label, C Wonder, copied the Tory Burch brand image.
Tory’s company has long been rumoured to be considering an IPO, but that wasn’t likely to happen while the lawsuit was ongoing. Tory denied it in November. Now that the suit is over, that becomes a real possibility.
Culled from www.helium.com


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400 staff will be affected by the closure
Dixons Carphone has announced it will close its 35 airport stores.
The mobile retailer has said that the 400 employees working at the stores will be offered roles within other parts of the business.
The company also announced that it would be paying £73m in furlough support back to the government after strong recent sales.
Dixons Carphone said: “We do not expect passenger numbers to recover sufficiently to compensate for the removal of airside tax-free shopping by the UK government from 1 January.
“This has led to the difficult decision to close this business.”
According to a report from the Telegraph, WHSmith is reportedly interested in taking over Dixon’s Travel stores.


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Technology is becoming advanced every day, resulting in a rapid change in world circumstances. Even with professional education becoming more accessible, there is an increase in the fraction of unemployed individuals worldwide. Though, if you look into this yourself and search it online, you will notice many articles explaining and listing the jobs that will be obsolete, but Lottoland has explained their perspective and mentioned the jobs that will be replaced by technology in upcoming decades. So, this article enlists the dropdown thatLottoland looks at more jobs being replaced by technology.
Cashiers being replaced by self-check machines:
With the development of self-made checkout machines, the need for cashiers is becoming extinct. We know that the emerging deadly situation because of the covid virus has compelled millions of people to shop online. Amazon is one of the leading stores that merchandise each and everything. An individual can open the app, search online, and add to the cart. The company delivers the goods at your doorsteps. On the other hand, there is a plausibility that RFID tags will replace both the self-made machines and cashiers.
Newspaper delivery replaced by electronic reading devices:
This one’s pretty obvious. Previously, newspaper delivery guys used to dispatch newspapers every morning at your doorstep, but unfortunately, these are gradually being replaced by the mighty internet. Every household has a mobile and internet. It has become effortless for folks to tune in to the latest news by searching online merely. Even the trend of visiting libraries for reading newspapers is also fading gradually.
Travel agents by travel websites:
With the excessive use of the internet, people around have found ways to make things super easy and accessible. Travel agents were previously booked or hired for traveling purposes, but nowadays, numerous travel websites can provide you with every detail on fingertips. Even discounts and packages regarding any foreign trips are available on every social media platform. But on the brighter side, there are still people like business folks or people who want to travel for pilgrimage readily hire travel agents to make all the bookings.
Taxi dispatchers or drivers replaced by mobile apps.
Who doesn’t know to use Uber or Careem? It is indeed a fact that a person no longer has to stand on the road and wave to the taxi dispatchers to stop the car and bargain the rate. Everything is arranged online now. This is an excellent convenience for everyone who doesn’t own a car and commute to their workplaces via public transportation. Uber drivers are located at every corner globally. All you have to do is book your car, see the fare and wait for it to arrive at your doorstep. And this part doesn’t snatch a person’s job as a driver. Anyone with a valid driver’s license can register at one of these apps, become a car captain, and start earning instantly.
Referee replaced by video cameras or technology:
When it comes to sports, whether it’s cricket or a football match, we know how critical the referee’s role is. His sole objective is to look at live games and assess every minute. But with the advancement in video technology, there are chances that a referee’s job may become obsolete in the coming years. But the importance and value it holds can never be replaced since we know how tactfully a referee works in every game of the show. Even if it is replaced by technology, people will miss the job of a referee and the way he uses it.
Robots replace telemarketers:
It seems like the whole world is going to be replaced by robots. We know that there was a distinctly individual voice behind every marketing object or company in our childhood. And these telemarketers use to guide us out wholly. It was fun. Kids even use to tease them by ringing them over several times, but again technology will replace this sort of employment. Since robots are trained to do human jobs, there is a high possibility that the companies will provide robotic help on call. That’s a little off, isn’t it?
The everyday individual replaces social media experts:
Previously, unique social media experts communicated their knowledge by assisting people in knowing how social media works. It was indeed a decent job, and many people were pursuing it as a professional career. People used to learn how to operate these platforms, but with the rise of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, countless people have learned how to use them and have taught everyone else how to use them. If you wonder who is left and who doesn’t know how to run these social media platforms? It is now a simple job. We see bloggers almost at every forum representing the same thing over and over again. So, there’s no difference left, which means everybody is a social media expert regardless of the generation.


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The farmers market: A growing affair
Islanders and tourists turned out in droves for Saturday’s Farmers Market, buying fresh greens, ripe tomatoes, carrots and caramels as the sound of music wafted through the air. Some lined up for La Playa’s tacos and tamales. Others sat at picnic tables, chatting with friends under a warm September sun.
It was a typical day at the market, except that this one was particularly special to those who organize the weekly event: The market’s vendors sold $12,902 worth of produce and goods, a new milestone for the bustling market.
“It was our best day ever in market history,” said a clearly pleased Allison Bockus, the market’s manager. “Labor Day weekend is usually a good weekend. But this one sets a new record.”
Like farmers markets everywhere, Vashon’s has felt the impact of a lingering recession. But now, as Bockus turns over the reins to Rebecca Wittman, hired as the new manager by the Vashon Island Growers Association board late last month, Vashon’s farmers market seems to have fully turned a corner. And these days, it’s again packed with people and lined with well-stocked tables week after week.
Bockus stepped in at a difficult period a year and a half ago, taking on the position after the Vashon Island Growers Association, a nonprofit that oversees the market, decided not to renew then-market manager Ivan Weiss’s contract, a move that divided some of the vendors.
But Bockus, a tall, energetic woman whose 11-year-old twins sell hand-made bracelets at the market, has helped to bring a new energy and professionalism to the enterprise while retaining its funky, home-grown flavor, some say.
Under Bockus, every vendor now has a sign — many of them artful and colorful — that touts his or her farm. Tables are heaping, in part because she sometimes squeezes vendors together to make sure there’s a look of abundance. A new co-op booth has been added — a place where Island gardeners who have extra produce but not enough to justify a whole table can sell their goods.
She’s also pushed the envelope on occasion. Determined to make the bazaar what she calls a “buyers’ market,” she brought in an off-Island honey producer after she couldn’t find an on-Island one — a move that angered some market loyalists, who say only Vashon products should be sold there. The honey producer left earlier this summer after failing to draw enough business.
And just this week, she brought East-West Roadside Produce into the fold, ending a long-standing division that began seven years ago, when East-West — unable to sell at the market because of VIGA’s bylaws — started selling produce in front of The Hardware Store Restaurant. East-West will continue to sell its goods in front of the restaurant, but it will now have a stand at the farmers market as well.
“Allison has done a great job of growing the whole market,” said Rob Peterson, owner of Plum Forest Farm, a fixture at the market. “She’s been a very upbeat and positive presence.”
Hedy Anderson, who sells six kinds of hand-crafted caramels every week, said she considers Bockus a leader and mentor. Bockus has worked well with her, she noted, providing marketing advice as well as a remarkable amount of support — charting her sale numbers, for instance, and sending her notes of encouragement.
“She’s a great marketer, and she’s good with people,” Anderson said. “She’s brought a lot of life to the market.”
This season, however, marks Bockus’ last at the market. She and her family are headed to Costa Rica this winter for a year abroad. And Saturday, as she showed Wittman the ropes, walking her through the many steps of managing the bustling place, she noted that Wittman will now be the one charged with taking the market to the next level.
The next challenge? More customers, said Bockus.
While the market has grown — customer counts have gone up as well as sales — the market averages around 400 to 500 customers a week, half of whom, Bockus believes, are tourists. On an Island with a population of around 11,000, she said, that’s a thin amount of support.
“The market’s running beautifully. We have fabulous vendors. The next challenge will be to get Islanders to support this Island treasure that we have,” she said.
Wittman, like Bockus, has a background in marketing and retail. Bockus and her husband owned a garden retail store in Seattle, Herban Pottery & Patio, which they closed a few years ago to spend more time as a family. Wittman, a former real estate agent, has been involved in the textile industry; she’s also played a high-profile role on Vashon, implementing the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association’s marketing campaign and curating its exhibit on K2.
Vendors say they believe Wittman has many of Bockus’ qualities; she, too, some noted, is energetic, professional, organized and enthusiastic. What’s more, she has a profound appreciation of Island history — a history rooted, in part, in agriculture.
“I’m really excited about Rebecca. She has a vision for the market that connects it to its agrarian ... history,” said Joe Yarkin, who runs Sun Island Farm with his wife Celina. “That’s my interest, too. I love the history.”
As for Wittman, she notes she has big shoes to fill. But she also said she’s thrilled to be taking on a position that seems to be at the heart of Island life.
“I feel like a kid who has gone to summer camp and found all my people there,” she said Saturday as she took in the lively scene. “I feel so welcomed and embraced. It just inspires all kinds of courage and ideas.”


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IPG Mediabrands has launched Rapport – its global out-of-home (OOH) specialist media buying and planning agency – into the China market with the appointment of Jennifer Zhu as the managing director of the (aptly named) Rapport China.
This latest agency launch follows last year’s opening of Rapport Hong Kong and (in addition to solidifying an Asia footprint) adds to 16 existing global markets for IPG’s OOH specialists.
“The growing use of OOH campaigns by digital media giants is both a testimony to the efficiency of OOH and an indicator of future growth, as marketing spend in the sector is set to continue its upward trajectory,” said Leigh Terry, CEO IPG Mediabrands APAC.
The agency stated that the expansion came following the release of a MAGNA Intelligence study in January 2019 which reported APAC to be the world’s largest OOH region, achieving almost USD$13 billion in sales in 2018. The report predicted OOH advertising revenues to continue to outperform in the next five years (2019-2023) with global growth of 2.8% per year, compared to a decline of 1.7% for total traditional media advertising.
“There has never been a more exciting time to launch into China. The Chinese OOH market is now the third-largest in the world,” said Michael Cooper, global president and CEO at Rapport Worldwide.
Cooper added, “The rapid urbanization of the Chinese population, coupled with market first adoption of evolving digital technologies means that OOH growth is out-performing at +9%. With a more mobile and increasingly connected population, our ambition is to create a competitive advantage for Chinese advertisers to connect with their consumers.”
Zhu’s appointment leading this new endeavour – based in Shanghai – has been made effective immediately, with her reporting directly to Cooper.
Zhu commented, “The out-of-home marketing sector is evolving at a rapid pace. I’ve watched with interest as Rapport continue to demonstrate their ability to harness and integrate emerging technologies to create rewarding connecting for their clients internationally, and increasing across Asia. I am excited about the potential we have to grow and amplify this expertise, powered by the knowledge of a unique media landscape like China.”
With over 16 years specialised strategic leadership experience in the Chinese OOH industry, Zhu has delivered creative solutions to a broad remit of clients including Nike, Richemont Group, General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Chanel, H&M, LVMH, Prada, Rolex, Gap, and Ikea. Prior to joining Rapport China, Zhu was the general manager at Kinetic, an OOH specialist outfit from the WPP group where she led OOH business for Wavemaker China and Nike GC.
“I believe with Jennifer Zhu’s strategic leadership and a wealth of experience, Rapport will be able to make the best of our capabilities in data, technology and partnerships across IPG Mediabrands, to drive Out-of-Home innovations for our clients, truly building online and offline connected OOH experience for consumers in China,” said Tom Wan, CEO of IPG Mediabrands China.


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British Airways advises fliers on how to collect Avios points
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British Airways allows customers to use Avios points to slash the cost of their airline ticket. However, an expert has warned the airline appears to have decreased the value of Avios points.
This, in turn, will make the cost of flights for Avios customers more expensive due to the lower discounts on offer now.
According to Rob Burgess, editor of frequent flyer website Head for Points said his research revealed an increase of 750 Avios each way.
This would total 1,500 Avios for a return flight.
The price increase appears to have taken effect immediately.
Though the Avios changes seemed to only impact 2022 flights, the travel expert said now some 2021 services have also been hit with changes.
What’s more, the airline no longer published an Avios reception chart, making it difficult to find out exactly what points will convert to.
Mr Burgess states that flights in “zone one, “zone two” and “Zone three” are impacted by the increase.
He adds “zone four” flights, which are primarily long-haul, appear unchanged for now.
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“These are also the Avios figures you will be quoted if you use a British Airways American Express 2-4-1 voucher,” added Mr Burgess.
“For non-241 bookings you will also be offered a range of other prices, some needing more Avios (and less cash) and some needing fewer Avios (and more cash).”
With travellers currently offered more flexibility under British Airways’ current rebook and refund scheme, Avios customers could be further impacted.
Mr Burgess explained: “If you voluntarily change a short-haul Avios flight, you will be required to pay extra Avios.
“If British Airways cancels your flight, you should not have to pay any additional points.”
However, an IAG Loyalty spokesperson, who heads up British Airways’ Avios scheme, pointed out the airline is currently offering its “largest range” of rewards.
The IAG Loyalty spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “We strive to offer choice and value with our reward flights and have introduced more ways to combine Avios and cash – the largest range we’ve ever offered.
“We keep our pricing under review and while we’ve made some changes to our short-haul Reward Flight Saver pricing we continue to offer an industry-leading proposition to British Airways’ Executive Club member.”
Avios most recently teamed up with Nectar, to allow customers to switch points between the two reward schemes.
This means shoppers who collect points at Sainsbury’s, for example, are able to switch their rewards into Avios points to be used on future flights.
“Making Avios worthless when used for flights is also an odd move now that the Avios / Nectar partnership is here,” commented Mr Burgess.
“It simply makes it more attractive to cash out your Avios for 0.8p in Sainsbury’s or Argos credit by transferring them to Nectar.”
As well as flights, Avios points can also be redeemed through the British Airways Executive Club on upgrades and hotel stays.
Source: Read Full Article


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Apple will allegedly release the iPhone 6 on September 19.
German network Deutsche Telekom claims to have heard the launch date from a source connected to the tech company, according to Apfelpage.de.
The release date is in line with Apple's previous product launches, with the iPhone 5S going on sale in Europe and the US on September 20 last year.
Leaked dummy models of the handset appear to indicate that it will feature a larger display than its predecessors, measuring in at 4.7-inches.
Apple has been tipped to announce its long-rumoured iWatch alongside the new phone in mid-September.


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Like most manufacturers, HTC has a half-dozen unannounced smartphones in the pipeline at any given time. The HTC Desire 626, HTC Desire
TENAA has seen a massive influx of handsets this week, and while several caught our eye, we’re going to tell you about
Over the last few weeks there have been several rumors about the HTC Aero smartphone heading for a November release. Details
There’s some excellent news for owners of the HTC One M9 today, especially those who have the phone on US carrier Sprint.
A few weeks ago, the rumor mill kicked up news of the HTC Aero smartphone, but details have been a been light.
The HTC One ME first crossed our radars March where it leaked before an official announcement earlier this month. Now the HTC
There may be plenty of readers who liked the sound of the HTC One E9+ and HTC One M9+ when they were
High-end Android smartphones have been arriving thick and fast recently, and in recent months we’ve seen the release of the Samsung Galaxy


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IDBI Bank may explore avenues to grow its corporate credit book, especially in the mid-corporate segment, in a risk-calibrated and cautious manner, following the exit from the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework, according to MD & CEO Rakesh Sharma.
The bank’s loan book composition of retail to corporate advances was at 62:38 as at end-March 2021, against 56:44 as at end-March 2020.
When IDBI Bank was brought under PCA in May 2017, its loan book composition of retail to corporate advances was at 43:57.
“The exit from the RBI’s PCA framework (with effect from March 10, 2021) has unlocked huge potential for your bank as it can now undertake a wide-range of banking activities and tap the emerging opportunities to boost its business performance. Your bank will continue to remain committed towards its strategic positioning as a retail-oriented bank with focus on growing the share of the loan book of retail and small & medium-sized enterprises,” Sharma said in a message to the shareholders.
When RBI initiates PCA for a bank, it imposes restrictions on the expansion wholesale portfolio, branch expansion, dividend distribution, among others.
PCA is invoked by RBI when a bank breaches any of the four risk thresholds relating to capital, asset quality, profitability and leverage.
IDBI Bank was able to reduce its Risk Weighted Assets (RWA) from Rs 1.59 lakh crore as at end-March 2020 to Rs 1.57 lakh crore as at end-March 2021. According to Sharma, this was a consequence of shifting towards a more retail-oriented portfolio mix, coupled with certain strategic capital conservation measures.
The IDBI Bank Chief said, “Since the muted operating environment clouds the outlook for the lending activity, your bank will focus on maximising fee income. At the same time, to boost the bottom-line, your Bank will work towards minimising its operating expenses and increasing productivity.”
MR Kumar, Chairman, IDBI Bank, in his message to the shareholders, observed that it is inevitable that the year ahead will be peppered with challenges stemming from wavering confidence among businesses as well as consumers as also sputtering momentum of economic activities.
“A health emergency of this magnitude has demanded extraordinary responses and outcomes from all the affected population, businesses as well as policymakers. Under these circumstances, the Bank remains committed to being with its customers and ensuring seamless delivery of financial services and will participate in the relief measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis,” Kumar said.
He underscored that IDBI Bank is cognisant of the elevated risks in the operating environment and will take steps to remain strong and resilient and be well-positioned to absorb potential losses that could arise.
Meanwhile, referring to the Government’s directive of rationalisation of overseas operations, IDBI Bank said it is undertaking necessary steps.
IDBI Bank has one overseas branch at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It has completed 11 years of operations.


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LEGO,the 78 year old toy company,is expanding their plant near Monterrey,Mexico to the tune of $100 million. As the only LEGO manufacturing operation in North America,the Monterrey plant is key to production for the markets in Canada,the U.S. and Mexico.
According to senior director Pablo Salazar,the total investment will be “fully spent” by September 2011. The Lego Operaciones de Mexico SA de CV has benefited from a previous $300 million investment since its opening in March 2009.
Mexico real estate was a first choice for the new construction last year and this expansion because of a number of factors. Unlike some other toy manufacturers who have taken their productions over the seas to China,LEGO decided to keep their factory close to home. The company selected the Monterrey area due to low annual employee turnover,high supplier density,access to human resources staff and good infrastructure. Stable transportation like roads,airports and utilities were also a factor. The Monterrey facility is less than a day’s drive from the Lego distribution center.
Establishing and growing a plant in Mexico is part of their ongoing strategy of quickly servicing North American sales. The plant’s primary objective is to supply the markets in United States,Canada and Mexico with the lovable plastic building toys that have delighted children since 1932. The company is planning on increasing sales volume in the USA,which is the main consumer of their toy blocks.
The investment will be primarily spent on buildings,equipment,laboratories and new workers. Lego Operaciones de Mexico currently employs 1200 individuals at the complex,which will grow after the new equipment is added. For example,the LEGO plant currently has 182 plastic injection machines but will increase this to 384 once the new construction is completed. The construction is scheduled to cover 39,500 square meters (425,172 square feet).


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ARTICLES ABOUT MILAN FASHION WEEK
Fendi's long association with the world of film - and fur - is celebrated in the exhibition "Making Dreams: Fendi and the Cinema" in Milan.September 21, 2013, Saturday
Alessandra Facchinetti creates clothes for real life at Tod's while the flower is, as ever, the motif for summer dressing in other shows.September 21, 2013, Saturday
The exhibition “Making Dreams: Fendi and the Cinema” illuminates Fendi’s long history of making furs for the movies, but also leaves you feeling that you have been inside a movie.September 20, 2013, Friday
Scenes from the Milan Fashion Week photo diary of Alfredo Piola.September 20, 2013, Friday
The photographer Greg Kessler captures the transformations of the Spring 2014 Fashion Week in Milan.September 20, 2013, Friday
Charlotte Tilbury created the slightly sun-kissed look, an ode to the supermodel Gisele Bundchen, with a minimal amount of products but a healthy dose of tinted powder.September 20, 2013, Friday
“Beauty in Wonderland” is an event coordinated by Italian Vogue and P&G Global Prestige, with a show that was ostensibly designed to highlight beauty products and their connection to nature.September 20, 2013, Friday
Scenes from the Milan Fashion Week photo diary of Sonny Vandevelde.September 20, 2013, Friday
Italian designer Alessandro Dell’Acqua is in line to be named the new designer of Rochas in Paris, replacing Marco Zanini after his show next week.September 20, 2013, Friday
The latest women’s collection from Blumarine at Milan fashion week.September 20, 2013, Friday
While “light” was the inspiration, the show was also rich in the famous Fendi furs, delicately used.September 20, 2013, Friday
Miuccia Prada's collection was colorful and extraordinary, illuminated not just by the digital prints of bold faces but also smothered in sequins and rhinestones.September 20, 2013, Friday
Scenes from the Milan Fashion Week photo diary of Alfredo Piola.September 19, 2013, Thursday
It is not often you see this many Italian designers in the same room, let alone speaking to one another.September 19, 2013, Thursday
If Miuccia Prada’s spring men’s show, in June, led people astray with its “Menacing Paradise” theme, her women’s collection on Thursday night was a slap in the face, Cher style.September 19, 2013, Thursday
SEARCH 266 ARTICLES ABOUT MILAN FASHION WEEK:
Giorgio Armani opens the theater in his Milan headquarters for a fashion show by the emerging ethical designer Stella Jean.
Despite the number of shows, it’s easy to pick out the winners.
Fur skirts offer a way for designers to explore wider, and wilder, proportions in their fall 2013 collections.
A selection of accessories from the Milanese runways.
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The recently revealed VR Smash Bros. style game, Quantaar, is now available worldwide. This cross-platform PvP free-for-all has unleashed its multiversal madness across Meta Quest 2, Pico 4 and SteamVR today.
Quantaar Brings Smash Bros. to VR
Developer Pumpkin VR recently announced their new Smash Bros. inspired VR brawler game, Quantaar. Currently in development for Meta Quest 2, PICO 4 and SteamVR headsets, Quantaar will launch next month.