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Reliance Jio has become customer’s favorite with three impressive offers, the summer surprise offer, being the latest one. Started in September 2016, they have come up with a welcome offer and happy new year offer. While everyone expected Jio to go paid by April 1st, they have launched another offer that allowed its Prime members to enjoy the free services for another three months on recharging with 303 INR or higher.
But the company is going to kill the latest offer upon TRAI order. So, does the offer really end?
Reliance Jio to Partly Kill its Summer Surprise Offer
Every other network raised their voice against Jio’s free services. TRAI kept its silence when it came to the first two offers. Mostly due to the pressure from other telecom operators and the decrement in the revenue of government (got from the profit of other networks), they have gone against the summer surprise offer.
As stated earlier, the summer surprise offer is exclusive to Jio Prime members, who recharge with 303 plan or higher. They can enjoy the service free for the next three months.
On 06/04/17 TRAI had a meeting with Jio officials. According to the company, they had been advised to stop the latest offer.
So, did they abruptly stop the order? No, they didn’t. In fact, they haven’t done it yet. Jio will stop giving the summer surprise offer to its new prime customers as soon as operationally feasible within a few days. Moreover, the discontinuation doesn’t affect the already enrolled prime members.
Reliance Jio achieved 100 million customers for its free service already in February. As the freebies were about to end on March 31st, they struggled to get premium subscribers at first. Nonetheless, the last few days in March saw a massive growth and they managed to get over 72 million Jio Prime members.
Jio launched summer surprise offer to attract the remaining free customers to sign up for the Prime membership. But it is going to end soon.
Still, you can sign up for Jio Prime without getting the offer. The deadline for it remains the same, until April 15. Once you do that, you can enjoy the service for a heavily discounted price. Not to mention, the voice service remains free for life.
The ending of Jio’s free offer brings relief to all its competitors, especially Airtel, Idea, and Vodafone. They have seen the steep slump in profits over the last few months.


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What men need now is an alternative, more flexible approach to suiting that will take you from a workday to the weekend - and that's just what Wilts’s team delivered with his first menswear collection as chief brand officer at Boss. We zoom in on his New York Fashion Week Men's debut below...
According to Lisa Simpson, the Chinese use the same word for crisis as they do for opportunity. Actually, as it turns out, she’s completely wrong but as a philosophy goes it isn’t a bad way of looking at the world. And nowhere is this truer today than in the world of menswear. The dizzying rate of change in the way the modern man now chooses to dress has left some more traditional labels reeling but one of the world’s biggest brands has chosen to embrace change and accept that there is a whole world beyond the grey suit.
Hugo Boss may have been built into a global fashion behemoth thanks to generations of men who have bought its suits as essential office wear but as the workplace has become more casual and the shirt and tie brigade is rapidly being replaced by the T-shirt and smart sneaker squad the brand is rising to the challenge. It chose to show the latest Boss collection in New York in the presence of a star-studded front row during men’s fashion week and under the watchful eye of its new chief brand officer Ingo Wilts Boss proved the changes have well and truly been rung.
The suit may well be far from death but what the world now wants is an alternative and a more flexible approach to a working – and weekend – wardrobe and that is precisely what Wilts’s team delivered. The approach was very much evolution rather than revolution, with Wilts going back to the Eighties and Nineties in the Boss archive to produce a more fluid silhouette with soft relaxed double-breasted suits worn with slouchy turtlenecks along with high-waisted oversized trousers twinned with cropped tailored bombers.
The outerwear was particularly strong, including capes, fur-trimmed parkas and extra-long and extra-short duffel coats with leather buckles in place of toggles plus zip-fronted knitwear – and duffel bags in place of the traditional briefcase. The overall palette was in muted soft greys, blacks, blues and clotted creams. And not a tie in sight.
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Car dealer ordered to pay close to $100K in restitution
A Springfield car dealer was ordered to pay close to $100,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to changing odometers on vehicles to misrepresent their mileage, according to a news release from Attorney General Chris Koster.
Ashley Bolton, 39, pleaded guilty in September to two felony counts of unlawful merchandising practices.
In January, Bolton was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days in jail — which began on Friday. Among the terms of Bolton's probation, he is not allowed to be involved in any automotive auctions, act as a licensed automobile dealer or have any involvement in automobile title transfers, the release says.
Bolton was ordered to pay $94,416.29 in restitution to 45 consumers who were victims of the odometer scam, according to the release.
If Bolton fails to meet the terms of his probation, he could be facing up to four years in prison.
The release says that Bolton changed the odometers on cars that were being sold by his Excel Auto Group in 2011 and 2012.
"Odometer fraud results in consumers spending more for cars than they are actually worth," Koster said in the release. "Bolton is now out of the car selling business in Missouri and will pay back his victims in-full or face prison time."
Missourians who suspect odometer fraud should contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint online ago.mo.gov.


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Trade tensions have been a key apprehension for equity investors in 2018. Last week, we saw some progress when the US and Mexico reached a new agreement. However, Canada still hasn’t agreed to the revamped NAFTA. President Trump notified Congress about signing the trade agreement with Mexico. The trade agreement will replace NAFTA.
This week is another crucial week for investors amid the trade spat between the US and its trading partners. While the talks between Canada and the US are expected to continue this week, President Trump could also move forward on the threat of imposing tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Previously, China retaliated in a similar fashion when the US (QQQ) imposed duties on Chinese products.
If President Trump actually goes ahead with tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese products, China (FXI) would have to look at other alternatives to retaliate. China only imported ~$130 billion of US goods in 2017, so it can’t impose “tit for tat tariffs” if PresidentTrump follows through with his threat of additional tariffs on Chinese goods. Several US companies including Apple (AAPL) and Ford (F) have significant operations in China. The country also has a vast holding of US Treasury securities (SHY).
President Trump has also raked up the tariffs on European auto exports. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and President Trump talked in a conciliatory tone after their meeting in Washington, DC, in July. President Trump lashed out against the European Union. He said that the region’s trade policies are “as bad as China,” according to Bloomberg.
Next, we’ll discuss how China is trying to bolster its economy amid the trade war with the US.


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Xiaomi 12T Pro, the company’s upcoming top-end smartphone in the Xiaomi 12 series, has surfaced in Google Play console, revealing some specifications. This reveals Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and 12GB of RAM. It has the codename ‘diting’. IMEI database revealed the model number 22081212UG.
It also reveals 2712 x 1220 pixels screen, which is the same as the 6.67-inch 1.5K screen present in the Redmi K50 Ultra that was introduced earlier this month. Based on rumours, this could feature a 200MP rear camera with Samsung HP1 sensor, compared to 108MP camera with ISOCELL HM6 sensor in the Redmi K50 Ultra.
The phone is said to retain the 8MP ultra-wide and the 2MP macro camera. It will likely come with a 5000mAh (Typical) battery with 120W fast charging. Based on latest rumours, the phone will launch globally sometime in Q3 2022, and it is expected to launch in Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand and other countries first.


text: Microsoft is lobbying for new state laws that would allow the software giant to sue US companies for doing business with foreign entities using pirated software. Instead of pursuing overseas suppliers for running unauthorized programs, Redmond wants to punish domestic firms with penalties including a sales injunction on the item in question as well as financial damages. Highlighting the madness of Microsoft's proposal, . The Washington state Senate and House have also approved different versions of the bill, which are currently being merged for final approval. Oregon is also contemplating the proposal.


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AN Edinburgh-based company making flat-pack solar thermal collectors has joined a new accelerator programme at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) in Dundee, as it rolls out plans to provide affordable clean energy to some of the world’s poorest communities. SolarisKit, which says its product is the first of its type in the world, is one of eight start-ups to join the programme at MSIP, described as a “low-carbon” campus and a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government. It is located on the site of the former Michelin tyre factory. Currently based at Heriot-Watt University, SolarisKit will set up a new assembly line for its product which will provide affordable hot water systems and clean energy for millions of people living across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as parts of Asia and South America. Faisal Ghani, founder and chief executive of SolarisKit, said: “Our plan is to set up a new manufacturing assembly line by the end of January to produce an initial run of 100 flat-packable solar thermal units destined for a trial project we are undertaking in Rwanda to demonstrate both the environmental and socio-economic impact achieved from the supply of affordable clean energy.
Herald 8th Dec 2020 read more »


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Augmented reality systems as small as a contact lens could revolutionise complex emergency response and military battlefield operations in the future, by drastically improving the situational awareness, decision-making and asset management of operators.
On Saturday, medical and pharmaceutical products manufacturer, Medline, hosted its ninth annual Medline Makes a Difference Day bringing together hundreds of employees, family members and friends who spent the day providing support to local charitable organisations.
On 19 February, Amazon filed a patent application in respect of the equipping of trucks with 3D printers so that products can be printed on-demand, whether en route to the customer or at a customer’s doorstep. Cerys Wyn Davies, partner of Pinsent Masons LLP looks at the potential impact of this method of product delivery.
The automotive sector today is grappling with an age-old industry problem; there’s a huge disconnect between the industry and its customers, says Clive Davis, head of manufacturing at Bluefin Solutions.


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KANSAS CITY, MO. — Verizon is a paid advertiser of Kansas City Live and is responsible for this content.
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is where the technology of the future is on display. It’s a showcase for thousands of major companies to show how their newest products will change lives. Everything from drones, to giant televisions to robots and automotive innovations are on display.
One of the nation’s top mobile carrier unveiled the newest version of automotive safety technology. Paul Hochman, one of the top technology journalists in the business explains what it is and how it helps.
Verizon is a paid advertiser of Kansas City Live and is responsible for this content.


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Earlier today, Reuters reported that German automaker Mercedes-Benz had signed a cooperation agreement with Google. The two parties will work together on navigation systems based on self-driving sensors in each vehicle. These sensors and software will provide “supercomputer-like performance” on the car. This will allow the German carmaker’s vehicles to compete with Tesla and new Chinese companies.
This is crucial for Mercedes-Benz as Tesla dominates the market with models that have pioneered some software-based features. These allow vehicle performance, battery range, and self-driving capabilities to be updated remotely.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the partnership with Google will allow it to provide instant traffic information and automatic re-routing. Drivers will also be able to watch YouTube on the car’s in-car entertainment system. Not a big deal, but still interesting.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius also said the company had agreed to share revenue with semiconductor maker Nvidia to reduce the upfront costs of buying expensive high-performance components. Nvidia, by the way, has been a partner in the company’s self-driving software since 2020.
“You just pay for a heavily subsidized chip and then figure out how to maximize joint revenue,” he said. So even if you don’t turn on all the features that the chip allows, the sunk costs would be much lower.
Separately, Luminar Technologies, a maker of self-driving sensors in which Mercedes has a small stake, said it had struck a multi-billion dollar deal with the carmaker to integrate its sensors into a range of vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz’s passenger car business delivered around 2 million vehicles to customers last year, down 1% on the previous year. However, the company’s EV sales jumped from 52,500 in 2021 to 117,800 last year.


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E-commerce major Amazon has planned to create one million new jobs in India through investments in infrastructure, technology, and logistics over the next five years.
The jobs – created both directly and indirectly – will be across industries, such as information technology, skill development, content creation, retail, logistics, and manufacturing, and are in addition to the 700,000 jobs Amazon’s investments have enabled over the last six years in India.
Not only this, the company will also invest US $1B to help bring 10 million traders and micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) across India online, enabling US $10B in cumulative exports by 2025 and supporting India’s economic diversification.
"We are investing to create a million new jobs here in India over the next five years. We’ve seen huge contributions from our employees, extraordinary creativity from the small businesses we’ve partnered with, and great enthusiasm from the customers who shop with us—and we’re excited about what lies ahead ”, Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos said in a statement.
Does your organisation support you in maintaining work-life boundaries?
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Worldspreads says revenue up 23pc
FINANCIAL spreadbetting company Worldspreads has said its revenues for the six months to the end of September rose by 23pc to €7.44m as its international expansion progressed as expected.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of €0.44m, down from a profit of €1.67m the same time last year as it invested heavily in its infrastructure and new sales and marketing plans.
India's economy up 8.9pc year on year
INDIA'S economy grew a forecast-beating 8.9pc year on year in the July to September quarter, underscoring the country's brisk recovery from the global financial crisis. The healthy numbers brought temporary cheer to the government, buffeted by a string of scandals including a telecom scam that could have cost the treasury up to $40bn.
ISME wants people to shop locally
THE IRISH Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has called for a national effort to "buy Irish to save Irish jobs". It said thousands of jobs depend on consumers buying locally produced products. ISME chief executive, Mark Fielding said: "Source and sell goods locally, and you create a multiplier effect; each euro spent will work its way through the local supply chain."
First Derivatives and US firm partner up
Software and consulting firm First Derivatives has announced a joint venture with Trading Cross Connects US. Newry-based First Derivative says the partnership will meet the growing need for software, infrastructure and consulting services to high-frequency trading firms in the foreign exchange, fixed income and futures markets areas.
JPMorgan to give bankers iPads
JPMORGAN will give its investment bankers iPads to provide a mobile tool as Apple expands its domain to Wall Street, threatening Blackberry maker Research in Motion. "We believe there are real benefits in our working environment that can be realised using this device," two managing directors at JPMorgan said.


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(Yicai Global) Jan. 18 -- Vision systems provider Beijing Aqiu Technology Co. (Aqrose) pulled in USD8 billion in A-round funding as it looks to shore up its team and push the limits of the robotics sector.
DCM Capital and Baidu Ventures led the round with support from Long Capital and other institutions from the angel round, Arqose said in a statement today.
"We want to relieve more people from boring and dangerous work and allow them to do more interesting and meaningful things," founder Huang Yao said. The firm will explore and extend the boundaries of robotics applications by tying in artificial intelligence, he added.
Aqrose will further increase research and development in such technologies as machine learning, 3D vision and robotics. In the short term, it plans to focus on product aesthetics and logistics, which can be applied to 3C electronics, auto parts and distribution, Huang said.
3C means computing, communication and consumer electronics.


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Five Million Units of Samsung Galaxy S II Sold in 85 Days
The Samsung Galaxy S II proves itself to be the hottest Android smartphone at the moment with the impressive sales of five million units in 85 days.
According to InformationWeek, Samsung sold an average of 59,000 Galaxy S IIs per day since it was available. It was barely three weeks ago that Samsung hit the three million mark and sales are expected to increase tremendously as it becomes available in more countries. With the release of the Galaxy S II in China this week and an imminent U.S launch in August, Samsung is on track to hitting its goal of selling 10 million units.
InformationWeek - "Since being launched into the retail market in late April, the Galaxy S II has seen tremendous growth," JK Shin, head of Samsung’s mobile communications business, said in a statement.
It is not surprising to see Samsung doing very well with the Galaxy S II. After all, it is very rare for a phone to clinch our Editor's Choice Award as competition is very stiff these days. This only means one thing - the Samsung Galaxy S II is really good. However, we cannot help but wonder if the rumored release of the next iPhone in September would have any negative impact on the sales of the Galaxy S II.


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Last month you might recall that Motorola officially announced that they will be releasing a Moto Mod accessory with Alexa for the Moto Z family, and for those who are interested in this particular mod, you might be pleased to learn that it will be available for pre-order starting on the 7th of November, which is tomorrow.
For those learning about this for the first time, the Moto Smart Speaker is as its name implies. It is an accessory that users can attach to their Moto Z handset that will offer better speaker quality compared to that of the default speakers inside of the phone, and at the same time it will also be “smart” thanks to its Alexa integration.
This means that in theory you should be able to access all of Alexa’s skills while on the go. That being said the Moto Smart Speaker is pretty expensive as far as accessories are concerned. It will be priced at $150 which makes it more expensive than devices like the Echo Tap which is priced at $80, the only difference being that this is more portable.
In any case if the Moto Smart Speaker sounds like a Moto Mod that you think will be useful in your everyday life, pre-orders will kick off tomorrow so do keep an eye out for it.


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We’ve all heard the debate before around “conventional” farming versus “organic,” and the multitude of arguments supporting each side. Proponents of industrial farming insist that organic farming is too expensive and can’t produce enough food to sustain our planet, but now conventional wisdom is being turned upside down. Earlier this month, our friends at Real Food Real Stories shared findings from a study conducted by Trucost for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations measuring the environmental and economic cost of factory farming against the actual costs of organic farming. The results of the study show that shifting from large-scale industrialized farming to smaller-scale, organic practices utilizing crop rotation, cover crops and manure produce larger profit margins while the environmental costs are significantly lower.
“The high environmental cost of industrialized farming practices is not reflected in food prices, leaving us vulnerable to supply disruption and price shocks as the effects of climate change worsen,” said Richard Mattison, chief executive officer of Trucost. “Our research for the FAO shows how alternative approaches to agriculture can benefit farmers and the environment, ensuring sustainable and affordable food supplies for all.”
At ROOT, we strive to connect our community to a sustainable food system through accessible, affordable small-scale home gardens. By creating agricultural spaces in urban places, we hope to contribute to a movement away from the detrimental techniques of large-scale industrial farming, empowering our community with tools and knowledge to be effective cultivators and advocates of sustainable farming techniques.


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Shopping search engine Yroo to expand operations in Ireland
Canadian company to create 33 jobs in Dublin over the next 3 years
Yroo VP Corporate & Legal Affairs Juron Kinnear, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, ConnectIreland CEO Joanna Murphy, and Yroo chief executive James Cunningham. Photograph: Paul Sherwood, ConnectIreland.
Yroo, a search engine for shoppers, is to create 33 jobs in Ireland over the next three years.
The company is expanding its Dublin offices in order to build out global operations and support in more than 35 countries where the company currently transacts.
The Irish office will be responsible for management and international sales, as well as business development, marketing, software development and customer support.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor said this is another vote of confidence in Ireland and in the skills of the Irish workforce.
“It is so fitting that a company designed to harness ‘people power’ has decided to invest in Ireland,” she said.
Yroo has grown its customer base to more than 10 million users and is currently growing at an average of 15,000 new registered users per day, primarily driven by peer-to-peer recommendations.
“We’ve seen such a rapid adoption in a very short period of time because we’re finally able to give users the tools to easily find exactly what they want – at the right price, from the right merchant – to take the frustration out of online shopping,” Yroo chief executive James Cunningham said.
He said Yroo chose Ireland because of its location, ease of doing business and access to talent along with the existing infrastructure and knowledge in the technology sector.


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BITCOIN SMART METERS MAY REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY SOUTH AFRICANS PAY THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS
Johannesburg Energy Management Inc. Invirohub recently offered consumers a new way to pre-pay for electricity: Bitcoin.
The meter made by the company will integrate Bitcoin wallet address, 3G SIM card and one connection to the server (calculate the real-time price of Bitcoin accurate to the minute). Users only need to send their bitcoin to the freewallet address of the meter, and Invirohub will charge the meter into their meter.
“A few weeks ago, I suddenly thought of this idea. I realized that it wouldn’t take much effort to integrate all of this into our current software,” said Lorien Gamaroff, Technical Director of Invirohub. “So I started working and soon integrated them into a pick-up.”
Invirhub is currently piloting this trial in the area around Johnsnyburg, and some of these areas have been confirmed to be available in the coming months.
Gamaroff said the company’s existing users (citizens and property companies) are not very demanding on bitcoin payments. Few users understand the concept of Bitcoin or the benefits of using Bitcoin, so Invirhub did not originally offer bitcoin payment options for their customers.
However, he believes that with the promotion of bitcoin awareness, people’s indifference to Bitcoin will change.
“In fact, Bitcoin is now integrated into the software. If any user chooses to pay in Bitcoin, they can do it. In addition, because the cost-effectiveness of payment is clearly in front of them, they will like this concept. ”
Invirohub’s bitcoin payment business has achieved exceptional success in rural areas. The residents there have had difficulty paying electricity bills in the past.
Gamaroff said that residents of a small town like this can only afford a few South African rand electricity bills, which can be used to buy $2 electricity every few days. For these customers, technologies like Bitcoin are easy to understand because they mostly know how to pay like M-Pesa. M-Pesa is a mobile payment system developed in Kenya with at least 14 million active users.
Bitcoin is growing in Africa
Interest in Bitcoin is growing in South Africa and across the African continent.
Two weeks ago, ZAbitcoinATM announced that it will deploy the Lamassu Bitcoin ATM in Johannesburg, which will be the first time that the Bitcoin ATM has landed in Africa. In addition, another plan to deploy Bitcoin ATMs in Cape Town is also underway.
Deploying more Bitcoin ATMs is a step forward for non-professionals to understand this digital currency. There are no banks in many parts of Africa, so payment service platforms like Visa and Paypal cannot be used. However, services that allow consumers to use Bitcoin payments worldwide have begun to evolve. To find out how many individuals in Africa hold cryptocurrency, visit this website:


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New models - Chery - J1
Chery re-boots with price cuts and ESC
Chinese brand Chery secures local future beyond 2013 with ESC and sub-$10k pricing
8 Jan 2013
CHINESE brand Chery has ensured its survival in Australia beyond the commencement of mandatory electronic stability control regulations in November 2013 after its local distributor today announced plans to introduce ESC to the J3 small hatch by June this year.
The news means the fledgling company – which experienced a 37.8 per cent decline in sales in 2012, its second year on sale – will for the first time be allowed to sell cars in Victoria, which already mandates that all new cars sold there must have ESC.
Australian Chery importer Ateco Automotive has also slashed the pricing of its existing J3 and J1 passenger models by up to $2000, with the light-sized J1 five-door further extending its margin as Australia’s cheapest car thanks to a new starting price of just $9990 driveaway.
The near-Mazda3-sized J3, meanwhile, will now retail for $12,990 driveaway (down from $14,990).
Ateco Automotive spokesman Daniel Cotterill told GoAuto the company expects to also introduce an automatic transmission on the J3 about the same time as the addition of ESC.
“It’s quite logical, with ESC being an integrated device and not a bolt-on thing I expect to see them (automatic transmission and ESC) introduced at the same time,” he said.
The J1, which previously retailed for $10,990 driveaway, extends its lead as Australia’s cheapest ahead of the new Mitsubishi Mirage ($12,990 driveaway), Suzuki Alto ($11,790 plus on-road costs) and Holden Barina Spark ($12,490 plus ORCs).
From top: Chery J11 J3.
The J1 becomes the first car sold here below the $10,000 barrier since 1999, when the Suzuki Alto retailed for $9990 plus ORCs.
Since then, a succession of budget models including the Daewoo Matiz and Daihatsu Cuore have come and gone, but none sold for under $10k.
However, unlike the larger J3, it is unclear whether the J1 will be offered with ESC by the November 2013 cut-off, so the offer could be short-lived.
Mr Cotterill said the company could only confirm the introduction of ESC to the J3 – which first hit the market in September 2011 – and not the J1 or the J11 small SUV, which retains its $17,990 driveaway starting price.
“The J3 will have it (ESC) in the second quarter of this year, and I’m not yet sure about the rest,” he said.
The J1, which scored only three ANCAP stars safety in May 2011, comes with two front airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, and front seatbelt pre-tensioners.
Mr Cotterill said having ESC on the J3 was an important step for the fledgling brand in Australia, especially because it will allow the company to extend its reach into the large Victorian marketplace.
“It’s something we’re looking forward to, because until we have that we can’t go on sale in Victoria, the second most populous state in Australia,” he said.
Mr Cotterill said a Victorian network, initially comprised of around 10 dealers split between regional and metropolitan locations, would be in operation soon after the first ESC-fitted J3 hatches hit Australian shores.
“We’d really like to set up a network there and sell some cars,” he told us.
“We’ve done the homework for the dealer network there’d be an amount of lead-time, but not as much as normal because we’ve done some advance work.
“Before we launched Chery we did some initial homework, and I’m sure the homework pretty much still holds good.” The J3 is powered by an 87kW/147Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine and features six airbags, leather seats, 16-inch alloy wheels, MP3 sound system, automatic headlights and wipers, and reversing sensors.
Last August, the J1 and J3 were among a handful of Chinese cars sold in Australia discovered to contain the banned substance asbestos in its engine gaskets, leading to Ateco – whose Great Wall brand was also affected – freezing stock that had not cleared customs.
Asbestos has subsequently been eliminated from Chery and Great Wall vehicles imported to Australia.
While Chery will dedicate the rest of 2013 to expanding the dealer network and consolidating its range in its third year here, Mr Cotterill said the brand was also looking to expand its local range in the coming years.
“I know there is intention on both sides – Chery and Ateco – to introduce new models, but we really need to get the foothold first and see what we do from there,” he said.
14th of August 2012
Asbestos alert on Chinese cars
23,000 Great Wall and Chery vehicles caught up in safety probe after asbestos found
5th of September 2011
New Chery J3 from under $15K
China’s Chery releases Corolla-fighting J3 hatch, priced from $14,990 fully loaded
All new models
Motor industry news


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AI technologies may have several decades of history, but there has always been a missing part in terms of getting access to large amounts of data. Things have changed, for the first time, thanks to digital capabilities, we now have not only all types of data, there’s real-time, on-line and always-available access to a wide array of data stream.
To teach a computer to understand information like what objects are contained in an image and how things can be properly categorized requires large volumes of data, the convergence of data and artificial intelligence are leading us into a promising path to shape the future of maximized AI benefits.
Data to Artificial Intelligence – “Garbage in, garbage out”
Industrial development is a result of international competition, the development of industry-leading companies is often the main force to drive the industry to its maturity.
“Poor data quality is enemy number one to the widespread, profitable use of machine learning” says Thomas C. Redman — aka “The Data Doc” — one of the original pioneers of data quality management. We all know any application of AI and ML will only be as good as the quality of data, basically, what you’ll get is highly dependent on the input.
(Photo by Kevin Ku from Pexels)
What has flawed data cost us?
To accelerate progress in developing AI technologies, the overall performance of data collection and annotation directly reflects the training result and its iteration speed. Face recognition technology has made incredible improvements in recent years, but no matter how good the machine is if it is still be fed the wrong data, no good outputs will we get. Here are two examples:
“Mistaken recognition of Dong Mingzhu” Incident, Dong Mingzhu, president of China’s biggest air conditioning maker, had her image flashed up on a public display screen in the city of Ningbo, with a caption saying she had illegally crossed the street on a red light. And turned out, it was the camera mistook a bus-side ad for her real face.
And few months before Dong Mingzhu’s false accusation, Amazon’s face recognition tool “Rekognition” matched 28 members of Congress i.e. lawmakers with mugshots and incorrectly identified them as lawbreakers. It raised the discussion of how unreliable face recognition is at the current stage and to what degree should we let technologies intervene in our systems. I mean, if innovative technology means putting innocent people behind bars, we could do much better without.
Workflow of Awakening Vector – a superior data service provider especially when it comes to data quality
Labor-intensive as it is, current data annotation workflow relies too much on labor. In fact, based on 2 years of experience working as the co-founder of Awakening Vector, I see the value of this industry lies in efficient coordination among all team members, which could be further broken down to agile data distribution, collection and quality assurance system, a platform that leveraging quality, efficiency and data security.
We have developed an online SaaS platform Labelhub, we offer a flexible workflow involving automatic data distribution, annotators performance tracking, centralized database and sufficient templates for nearly all use cases.
Small and medium-sized AI companies with a limited budget might be stuck with what they can get, but the top players are more likely to turn to high-quality data service providers.
All in all
Instead of diving into refining ML algorithms, it would be best to take steps to mitigate risks by flawed or incomplete data. Essentially, the more you understand your data, the more likely for the model to get successful results.
We offer industry leading image annotation service at low cost, high efficiency, and short feedback loop so you get the images you need on time for your world changing applications.


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Data Protection Day is an annual event organised by human rights organisation Council of Europe that takes place every 28th January. Launched eight years ago - and known as ‘Privacy Day' outside Europe...
If you can live without personalisation there are plenty of alternatives
The landmark California Consumer Privacy Act offers Californians several basic rights
The change is being introduced in five countries this week
ECJ advocate general also considering whether EU's standard contractual clauses provide sufficient protection for European consumers
Now defunct firm is now required to delete all the data it collected on Facebook users


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A Rush On Twinkies Across Missouri
Grocery chains across Missouri are running out of Twinkies and other Hostess products, following Friday's announcement that the company is going out of business.
Shoppers had already been snapping up Twinkies, Ding Dongs and other Hostess-made snacks prior to the announcement that the company was closing.
Lori Willis is spokeswoman for the St. Louis-based Schnucks grocery chain. She says they expect to completely run out of Hostess snack products this weekend.
“As a retailer, this is the very last thing you want to hear, that you’re not gonna be able to meet the needs of your customers, so we’re working very hard with a lot of other suppliers to make sure that we can fill in where we can," says Willis.
It appears that some customers have no intention of eating the snacks. There are currently more than 1500 listings on eBay advertising boxes of Twinkies for sale.


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Food prices are steadily increasing, now for the eighth consecutive month, according to the most recent CPI report. The overall food price index went up by 1.5% in April, significantly greater than March’s 0.3% increase.
Food at home
Food at home prices saw incredible growth in April at 2.6%, up from the 0.5% increase in March.
All six major grocery store food groups experienced price increases of at least 1.5% for the month. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs led the way with a 4.3% increase, primarily due to a 16.1% increase in the price index for eggs. Other notable changes included:
- Nonalcoholic beverages: +2.9% (+0.9% in March)
- Cereals and bakery products: +2.9% (+0.1% in March)
- Fruits and vegetables: +1.5% (+0.8% in March)
- Dairy and related products: +1.5% (+0.6% in March)
April’s sizable increases brought the food at home index for the past 12 months to +4.1% (compared to the 1.1% increase reported in March). For the year-long period, all the major grocery store food group prices went up, including:
- Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs: +6.8%
- Dairy and related products: +5.2%
- Nonalcoholic beverages: +5.0%
- Fruits and vegetables: +0.4%
Food away from home
Following a 0.2% increase in March, food away from home prices went up by only 0.1% in April. This includes a 0.7% increase for limited service meals and a 0.3% decline in full service meals.
The 12-month index for food away from home is now at +2.8%, with limited service meals at +3.2% and full service meals at +2.4% for the period.


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Beekeepers in LA can finally join their counterparts in London, Toronto and Paris and reap the sweet rewards of this booming practice.
Researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK have concluded that following a vegetarian diet can have a substantial and beneficial impact on our health, following the results of a ten year long study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study tracked almost 45,000 people living in England and Scotland and found that vegetarians were around 30% less likely to suffer from heart disease than their meat-eating peers.
Supermarkets and restaurants in the United States distribute more than 2 times the food necessary to feed the entire population. So what happens to the half that’s never eaten?
If there’s one thing environmentalists and your general practictioner will agree on, it’s that we should be eating less meat. High meat consumption has been linked to a variety of cancers, cardiovascular problems, and obesity, while its negative impact on the environment has raised alarm bells among scientists. An important source of greenhouse gases like carbon, methane and nitrous oxide, human-reared livestock now consumse an astounding 60% of all the food we grow, with 1 pound of beef taking up to 20 pounds of feed to produce.
It’s time for some healthier, and greener, sources of protein in our diets. Here’s a look at 5 of them, each delicious and nutritious in their own way.


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Bad assessment requirements and lax legislation means some CBD items in the united kingdom have illegal amounts of THC or no CBD after all. Now the industry is just starting to control itself
Based on whom you ask, CBD oil is either a cure-all or the snake oil of y our age. It’s been touted being a therapy for epilepsy, psychosis and anxiety and it has discovered its method into chocolates, gummies and nicotine gum, including as much as a complete market this is certainly set become well worth almost ?1 billion per 12 months by 2025 in britain alone.
But although the argument over whether a container of CBD oil really can sooth your nerves rumbles in, there’s an even more relevant issue: that bottle may not have any CBD inside it.
Tests from the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) in June unearthed that 62 % regarding the British street that is high learned didn’t retain the CBD content promised regarding the label. One product (retailing for ?90) had no amount that is measurable of non-toxic cannabis element at all. And where with a lack of advertised cannabidiol, some items had been packing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating – and unlawful – chemical that creates a cannabis high. Based on the report nearly half of tested products had lower levels of THC or cannabinol (CBN), another substance that is psychoactive.
And though these items are not likely to have anybody confused and dazed, they suggest that the CBD industry’s requirements are barely high. So just how are the CBD businesses slipping cannabis that are illegal onto high street racks? And just why aren’t the regulators recognizing them?
Should most of us be using vitamin D supplements in wintertime?
By Maria Mellor
“It’s not like individuals are wilfully doing this,” says Shomi Malik, development manager during the CMC. “People have no idea what they do not know.” This lack of knowledge could be partly blamed in the CBD labs’ unfamiliarity with cannabis chemistry. Filled with over 400 compounds that are unique which were notoriously tough to learn as a result of the drug’s prohibition – cannabis is not your average cosmetic. So that as its use that is medicinal only appropriate in britain final November, the nation continues to be lacking qualified cannabis chemists. “It is deficiencies in domain specialists within the industry,” Malik says. And in the CBD labs, this not enough specialists is causing some clumsy mistakes.
The issue, Malik says, is numerous assessment machines are means from the mark. “once you calibrate a testing machine .. we need certainly to inform it just what top is THC, what peak is CBD, and all sorts of the other cannabinoids|it what peak is THC, what peak is CBD, and all the other cannabinoids.. I need to tell. In order to achieve that, you’ll want to purchase standards,” he says. “So you get highly refined pharmaceutical-grade THC. After which when you have calibrated it, your device understands what THC seems like. Now, then you are beginning off from the incorrect base in a huge means. in the event that you buy a regular from a business that is not accredited,”
In line with the CMC, these mistakes that are aren’t one-in-a-million they’re easy-to-make mistakes that might be prevented if more lab analysts in the united kingdom knew how exactly to assist cannabis product. But while that could be the manufacturers’ excuse, the UK’s health insurance and security regulators may require a far better one.
“There’s no quality that is real and production requirements,” states Harry Sumnall, a professor of substance usage at Liverpool John Moores University. “In the UK, we now have a wide range of regulatory agencies which may be taking a look at this, such as the Medicines and Healthcare items Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in addition to Food guidelines Agency (FSA) – all those organisations are under resourced . so it is hard they might do for any other services and products, because the CBD market’s too large. to allow them to provide that oversight, which”
Having grown from the novelty that is botanical a ?300 million market in only 3 years or more, it is maybe maybe not surprising that CBD’s retail need has outpaced its legislation. Fortunately, you can find a number of rules under UK law. Any claims around medical benefits are really a strict no-go – CBD is just considered medically beneficial whenever provided in medical doses – and any quantifiable level of THC in an item needs a license through the home business office. But based on the CMC report, this second guideline has already been being broken, and as a result of international news exposure and health buzz, retail CBD items are currently inextricably associated with compound’s medical advantages into the eye that is public.
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“CBD is all throughout the news, and has now been presented as being a miracle substance,” says Sumnall. “There’s frequently a concentrate on big United States superstars products that are launching, plus some associated with the claims they generate that maybe those kinds business owners would not manage to make here in britain because of http://diamondcbd.org medications laws.”
Therefore with rules currently being broken and little oversight from regulators, just how can individuals be certain that their CBD items are safe?
“Thankfully, we have maybe maybe not run into any problems around harmful CBD products into the UK,” claims Sumnall. “But just look over the Atlantic towards the United States Of America where there is an unregulated market around THC-based vaping oils. So we understand that poorly managed areas could be associated with harms, therefore there are concerns here.”
Luckily, several research reports have discovered CBD to be well tolerated in many individuals as well as the World wellness Organisation has said that “to date, there’s absolutely no proof of general general public wellness associated issues linked to the use of pure CBD.” But with UK testing therefore unreliable, it is maybe not the CBD that’s got individuals like Sumnall and Malik worried about customer health. It’s anything else the retail items could include. All things considered, one of many CBD items through the CMC’s report included 3.8 % ethanol, lawfully which makes it a liquor. So to simply help restrict such contaminants, the CMC recently established a review that is new of evaluation in britain CBD industry, which it hopes may help establish robust, standardised options for analytical labs.
“We during the CMC will soon be setting up the standard, that says, ‘this may be the quality we would like when you look at the screening of those samples’,” says Parveen Bhatarah, CMC’s regulatory and conformity lead. “So we’ll be starting dozens of criteria and sharing them with the CMC users, and ideally sharing it with all the FSA to make sure that individuals are now actually sowing the seeds as to the way we are likely to control the forex market.”
Apple Watch Series 5 review: still the very best, but where’s the rest?
By Jeremy White
One such CMC member that are going to be getting involved in the newest review is Dragonfly CBD, a cannabidiol brand name stocked by Boots pharmacies and Harrods emporium. “We joined up with the CMC because i believe this really is good to have insightful conversations with those across plenty of some other part of cannabis,” claims Hannah Skingle, Dragonfly’s chief running officer. “As a CMC member, we give consideration to exactly how we can correctly manage this market with its present state and that which we as businesses, ethically, must do to essentially make sure our clients are getting the best quality item.”
Dragonfly CBD can be bound into the CMC’s recent CBD charter, which commits every member to work alongside accredited labs and maintain an advertising code that prohibits labelling that is inaccurate any mention of the medical claims, sex or violence. The charter is another sign that the UK’s CBD industry might be finally maturing and accepting accountability along with the CMC’s testing review. But there are several whom wonder if this types of interior legislation is eventually for the main benefit of CBD consumers or businesses.
“Because of those difficulties in legislation, you’ve got organisations just like the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis – they will have stepped into this role,” states Harry Sumnall. “Even though very well intentioned, it is rather much an application of self-regulation, which can really be modelled in the interests of these users and their donors.”
“I think in a world that is ideal we would have definitely better resourced regulatory agencies, which are separate, including the FSA plus the MHRA, who be carrying this out task,” Sumnall claims. “So it really is understandable that self-regulation has emerged when you look at the absence of those agencies having that ability.”
But fundamentally, whether or not it arises internally or externally, any style of lab standardisation should benefit customers that are CBD. By equipping themselves with similar devices and standards, there’s a good opportunity labs should be able to spot unlawful impurities last but not least agree with their products or services’ CBD contents. So when funding equipment that is new training will probably drive up companies’ production costs, the move may also help understand end associated with the smaller, CBD businesses, that may have been light regarding the evaluating.


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Porsche to Produce Batteries in Germany
Automotive icon Porsche is set to become the latest carmaker with battery production facilities in Germany. The Volkswagen subsidiary says it is teaming up with fuel cell specialist Customcells to build a factory with an annual capacity of 100 megawatt hours in the southwestern German town of Tübingen. Previously, Porsche has imported its batteries from South Korea.
Production in Germany will commence in 2024 according to company plans. Porsche is aiming to have at least 80 percent of its vehicles be electric by 2030. The company is well positioned to be a leading player in the luxury electric sports car market and has weathered corona pandemic disruptions well, notching a profit-to-sales ratio of over 16 percent in Q1 of this year.
Porsche is aiming for a charging time of 15 minutes in its next generation of batteries. Parent company VW is building six battery production facilities in Europe, and competitor Tesla is setting up what it says will be the world’s largest EV battery factory just outside Berlin.
The German version of online newspaper Business Insider also reports that Daimler intends to start producing its own batteries.
© Dr. Ing.h.c.F.Porsche AG


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Luxury appliances manufacturer ASKO is opening its first UK showroom – in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Swedish company is preparing to launch the site in Whittle Road, Meir Park, this spring, following a six-figure investment.
The 3,000 sq ft showroom will be home to more than 50 products from ASKO's UK portfolio which was launched last year to consumers nationwide.
Open to retailers and trade representatives, it will be a place for buyers to come and see the products first-hand and speak to the ASKO sales teams.
Stuart Wilson, ASKO's national account manager, said: "It's incredibly exciting to be opening our first UK showroom in Stoke-on-Trent. We launched to the UK last year and customer feedback has already been incredibly positive.
"ASKO promises sleek, minimalist design paired with ultimate functionality, making our products some of the most premium on the market. We pride ourselves on the quality and longevity of our machines and can't wait to show off our range at the new showroom."
Founded in 1950, ASKO is a global brand that designs and manufactures premium kitchen, laundry and professional appliances that 'wash cleaner, use less water and energy and last longer.'
ASKO's appliances are exported and distributed by sales companies in the Nordics, USA, Australia and 50 other markets worldwide.


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Two factors are reshaping the African corporate environment: cloud digital natives and the budding startups. Companies that are cloud digital natives were created on cloud computing platforms and make use of the scale and flexibility that the cloud provides. On the other hand, emerging startups are brand-new businesses that use technology and innovation to challenge established markets and develop fresh business strategies. These two tendencies are fostering development and innovation within the startup ecosystem in Africa.
The African Development Bank observed interesting trends in the number of startups in Africa and reported consistent and quick increase in recent years. An estimated 5,000 startups are expected to become functional businesses in Africa by 2023, with a sizable part of them in the technology and innovation industries. According to the Bank’s survey, South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria are home to the bulk of African companies, with Kenya and Morocco also emerging as significant startup centers. One of the key drivers of this growth in African startups is the increasing availability of funding. In 2022, venture capital (VC) investment in African startups reached an all-time high of $7 billion from $1.3 billion in 2020 and $1 billion invested in 2019. This increase in funding is helping to support the growth of new startups and the scaling of existing ones.
Due to their ability to simply and swiftly scale their enterprises to meet the needs of their consumers, cloud digital natives are especially well-positioned to benefit from this funding.
A number of advantages enabled by cloud computing platforms, including worldwide reach, flexible pricing, and on-demand scaling, are responsible for the emerging narrative. These advantages are especially crucial for African businesses, who frequently struggle with issues including a lack of local knowledge and restricted access to infrastructure.
Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech company that offers a digital payments platform for both enterprises and people, is one example of a cloud digital native startup in Africa.
Since its establishment in 2016, the company has raised more than $20 million in capital.
Flutterwave has become one of the top fintech firms in the region by fast expanding its services to additional nations in Africa and Asia by utilising the cloud. M-KOPA, a Kenyan firm that offers off-grid inexpensive solar power options, is another digital native success story. M-KOPA has developed a digital platform that enables clients to pay for their solar power systems in a series of manageable, inexpensive sprints by utilising the cloud. Simple, but effective, the company has reached more than 1.4 million customers in East Africa expanding its services to other countries in Africa and Asia – an incredibly timely idea when sustainability is a focal need to keep the planet going.
African emerging startups are also having a big impact, especially in the technology and innovation fields. These firms are using cutting-edge technologies like AI/ML, IoT, Web3 and blockchain, etc. to disrupt established markets and develop fresh business strategies. For instance, a Kenyan business called BRCK uses its ruggedized, cloud-managed routers to offer connectivity solutions for remote places in Africa and other developing countries. BRCK uses
IoT and blockchain to create a robust and secure network infrastructure in these regions, which is great for the local economy and society.
Startups in Africa are also using e-commerce to reach customers in far-flung locations and to open up new business prospects for small companies. Jumia, a Nigerian e-commerce business that operates in 14 nations throughout Africa, is a good example. Jumia is utilising the cloud and digital technology to give clients a simple and safe online shopping experience while also giving small companies a platform to sell their goods online. In conclusion, two trends that are altering the African corporate scene are cloud digital natives and the burgeoning startup.
Africa’s time for development is here. Technology is no longer a nerd’s playground but a global economic enabler.
About the author – Uche Nwaukwa is a DevOps, SRE, and Senior Cloud Architect with 15+ years of experience having played strategic roles in global fintech, banks, ISVs, telecommunications, and OEMs including Microsoft, IBM, and Google. He has been privileged to advise execs and techies alike on architecture best practices in the financial services industry, dominantly. He has served as an Enterprise Architect and also, a CTO driving bespoke architectures to meet stringent SLOs and SLAs. Uche is an avid learner, a father, and a husband, and likes to relax with a good chess game and cycling. Please follow us on LinkedIn #techie


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TUI Has Worst Start in 4 Years as Joussen Takes Over as ChiefRichard Weiss
TUI AG, the owner of Europe’s largest travel company, reported its biggest first-quarter loss in four years as the company gets a new chief executive officer for the first time in almost two decades.
The net loss widened by 56 percent to 137 million euros ($184 million) in the three months through December, as a positive tax effect from the previous year wasn’t repeated and as an accounting change at TUI Travel Plc took effect.
Shareholders are eager to learn how Friedrich Joussen, 49, the former Germany head of Vodafone Group Plc, will change TUI’s strategy when he takes over as CEO after the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Hanover, Germany today. The shares declined 34 percent under Michael Frenzel, 65, who headed TUI and Preussag, as the company used to be called, for 19 years. Germany’s MDAX benchmark index for medium-sized companies rose more than five-fold in that period.
TUI confirmed its outlook for fiscal 2013 today, saying it expect sales to rise “moderately” while operating profit will remain at last years’ level. Net income before minority interests will be positive, TUI said.
First-quarter sales rose 1.4 percent to 3.5 billion euros on higher revenue at the cruise ship unit and from hotel operations.
TUI on Jan. 23 said it retreated from a plan to combine with TUI Travel, in which it owns a majority stake, succumbing to investor pressure to drop a share-based deal only a week after saying the two companies were in preliminary talks. The company is barred by U.K. takeover rules to make a fresh approach for the U.K. company for six months.


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FacilitySource thinking big after landing $10M private equity infusion
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When retailers opened their doors earlier than ever on Black Friday, it was a Columbus company that ensured the lights were on and the temperature was right at many of those stores. Employees of FacilitySource changed more than 15,000 lighting and HVAC schedules for customers for the traditional kick-off to holiday shopping.
CEO Bill Hayden said if recent growth trends hold true, the facility maintenance management business will be even busier in the run-up to Black Friday next year. Though he declined to disclose exact totals, he said revenue is up 24 percent this year, with a 25 percent to 30 percent increase projected next year.
And with a $10 million private equity investment in hand, the company plans to add 250 employees, many in Central Ohio, and hunt for potential acquisitions.
“The economy helped us,” he said. “Businesses are trying to do more with less.”
Enter FacilitySource, which monitors and attends to the maintenance needs of companies that count their stores by the hundreds worldwide. The company oversees more than 60,000 stores and other operations in 12 countries.
Its core offering is Facility Maintenance Optimization. If a light isn’t turning on or the air conditioner is on the fritz, that’s where it comes in. Issues can be documented in the system at the store or by calling FacilitySource’s help desk. Technicians evaluate the trouble remotely, then, if needed, dispatch a vendor to repair it.
It boils business down to a single contact point and management system for its customers, Hayden said, whether that is fixing problems or managing planned capital projects.
Shari Epstein, research director for the International Facility Management Association, said the industry is growing not only because of staff reductions at myriad businesses, but because companies are making do with older buildings and stores.
“With fewer people available to handle functions, outsourced providers are definitely an area that is growing,” she said. “They can operate remotely and efficiently and are able to handle multiple locations.”
FacilitySource’s second-biggest product is its remote Energy Management Systems monitoring. Hayden said the company doesn’t buy or sell the monitoring systems but will operate and watch them. It allows for remote troubleshooting before a service technician would need to be called.
“That’s had huge growth this year,” he said. “Utility savings is a big market.”
FacilitySource in October got $10 million in financing from New York-based BMO Capital Markets that will help fund its growth plans, including more offices in North America and Europe and potential acquisitions at home and abroad.
“We think they have a good business model outsourcing non-core but mission-critical services,” said BMO Managing Director Douglas Sutton.
FacilitySource went international in 2009, when it opened an office in Madrid to support its work with Spanish retailer Groupo Cortefiel, and an office in Chester, England, which wasn’t tied to a certain client.
While it hunts for more international business, it is getting an overseas boost from existing clients, including Columbus-based Limited Brands Inc. and New Albany-based Abercrombie & Fitch Co., both of which are expanding overseas and taking FacilitySource with them. Hayden said the company is working to land clients in the Asia-Pacific region and South America so it can establish offices in those markets.
FacilitySource was founded in 2001, and has had Limited Brands as a customer since its early days, but didn’t hit its major growth spurt until around 2006. Its target customer has at least 200 locations; the largest current customer has more than 7,000 sites. Retail, restaurants and medical service are among the key markets. Hayden said FacilitySource is working with less than 15 percent of its target market in North America.
Dan Eaton covers retailing and restaurants for Columbus Business First.
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"In turn, it also provides Fiat with the opportunity to expand into some of the larger platforms," she says of Chrysler's reciprocal bounty. "The Fiat brand will allow consumers to buy a European product without spending $30,000, $40,000, $50,000. It offers the U.S. a nonluxury European brand besides Volkswagen."
"Some people didn't have a great experience in the Fiats of the past. Now it's about showing people that the Fiat of today is not the Fiat of yesterday," Ms. Lindland said of the U.S. marketing tactics.


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Apple’s newest iPhones are available for preorder and some are already selling out
Lusting for those new, larger and spiffier iPhones? The time to move is now. Apple began taking preorders for the iPhone XS and XS Max models, unveiled Wednesday, with larger OLED screens, a faster A12 Bionic processor and improved cameras.
Apple Watch Series 4 more than 98% accurate at detecting AFib, finds study9to5Mac
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all 2,211 news articles »
This story was originally published here


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Hong Kong firm, CK Life Sciences, has bought three vineyards from one of Australia’s oldest winemakers, the McWilliam family for A$15.7 million.
Auction house Sotheby’s has released its 2014 report and, for the second year in a row, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has topped the rankings.
The Burgundy-dominated collection of wine importer, Martine Saunier, drove Acker Merrall & Condit to one of its “strongest sales in recent memory”.
Debra Meiburg MW has announced a “bumper” line-up for the inaugural WineSPIT conference in Hong Kong this spring.
On the back of its fine wine boom, Hong Kong has witnessed a surge in the wine storage business since 2001 when Crown Wine Cellars threw open its doors in a former WWII munitions bunker.
The Hong Kong fine wine trade is waking up from its winter slumber and getting in the groove with first growth Bordeaux and Mosel Riesling.
Altaya’s managing director, Paulo Pong, has said 2015 is off to a strong start and he expects to see continuing trends for Burgundy and increasing online sales.
A Hong Kong bar has collaborated with English perfume house Penhaligon’s on a concept that matches cocktails to guests’ fragrance preferences.
An ex-cellar collection of Mouton Rothschild has made over HK$32 million (£2.75m) at auction in Hong Kong, double the pre-sale estimate.
The late Baroness Philippine de Rothschild’s children have spoken of their plans for the future of Mouton Rothschild.
© 2015 Union Press Ltd | Unit 122, 30 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0HS, UK | Registered in England and Wales No. 03606414 | Tel: +44 (0)20 7803 2420


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OKCredit, a Bangalore-based startup that enables small merchants to turn their bookkeeping digital, has raised $67 million to expand its business in the nation.
The Series B financing round for the two-year-old startup was led by Lightspeed and Tiger Global. The new round, which follows Series A financing round in June this year, climbs OkCredit’s total raise to $87 million.
OkCredit operates an eponymous mobile app that allows merchants to keep track of their day-to-day purchases and sales. Last month, startup founders told TechCrunch that the app had amassed over 5 million active merchants across 2,000 cities in India.
More to follow…
Written by Manish Singh
This news first appeared on https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/12/okcredit-series-b/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29 under the title “India’s OkCredit raises $67M to help small merchants digitize their bookkeeping”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.


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Early this year MasterCraft purchased Hydra-Sports and it just announced that the line's transition to MasterCraft's modern building facility in Vonore, Tenn. is complete. Given the fact that Hydra-Sports has 16 boats in its line, with hundreds of individual molds, that has been a tremendous accomplishment. MasterCraft is not only one of the leading ski/wake boat builders in the world, but also one of the most quality-oriented small boat builders. Company president and CEO John Dorton said, "...we have identified and implemented many improvements that strengthen both the quality and functionality our owners are looking for." The company is now in the hunt for new dealers both in the U.S. and all over the world.
There are 16 models in the Hydra-Sports line ranging from 18 to 42 feet -- one of the most extensive line of offshore fishing boats made in the world.
From a recent Hydra-Sports Press Release---
Hydra-Sports Kicks Dealer Acquisition Into High Gear
Hydra-Sports Boats has undergone tremendous improvements since being acquired by MasterCraft Boats in early 2010. The initial transition of molds and integration into the Vonore, TN, production facility is complete and full line production of 2011 models is now underway.
“It is an extremely exciting time for Hydra-Sports,” says President and CEO John Dorton. “From a product line perspective, we have identified and implemented many improvements that strengthen both the quality and functionality our owners are looking for.”
Sales Reps Added
In addition to the product changes, two key members have been added to the sales staff. Kirk Lewellen has returned to Hydra-Sports as the Regional Sales Manager for Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Lewellen is a veteran of the marine industry with over 15 years experience in sales management, much of that time spent with Hydra-Sports.
Adrian Hart has joined Hydra-Sports as International Sales Manager. Hart is a renowned advocate of growing boating in the UK through his affiliations with the British Marine Federation and Royal Yachting Association. Hart brings 35 years of marine industry experience to the brand.
Kirk and Adrian join Alex Leva and Randy Jernigan to give Hydra-Sports one of the most experienced sales teams in the industry. With the addition of key staff, Hydra-Sports is now keenly focused upon creating new dealer partnerships.
New Dealers Added
The addition of 3A Marine in Hingham, Massachusetts, and Anglers Marine in Brunswick County, NC, add a solid brand presence in these Atlantic states, while the signing of Warsash Marine in Southampton, United Kingdom, provides a new affiliation for Hydra-Sports overseas. Look for more improvements in the coming months with a heavy emphasis on new partnerships as Hydra-Sports actively expands its dealer network. Hydra-Sports will be at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida November 14-17 to discuss growth opportunities with potential dealers.


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Odd-even: Delhi govt impounds 25 Ola, Uber cabs for surge pricing
Facing the heat, aggregators Ola and Uber on Monday evening suspended the surge-pricing optiondelhi Updated: Apr 19, 2016 17:56 IST
The Delhi government on the fifth day of its odd-even experiment on Tuesday impounded 25 Ola and Uber vehicles for surge pricing.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday warned of action after complaints of overcharging against Ola and Uber during peak hours.
Sources said the government may summon Ola and Uber executives. The transport department’s enforcement team has been ordered to check cab bills and investigate surge pricing.
“The impounded vehicles face a fine of R 5,000 and a life ban. We are monitoring all complaints and conducting surprise checks on commercial vehicles,” said a senior transport officer.
The government on Monday evening also started a helpline for aggrieved commuters.
On Monday morning, many commuters took to Twitter and other social media platforms to vent their anger.
A woman working for an IT company was charged R 1,200 for a ride from Noida to Connaught Place. Similar complaints were shared on social media with most commuters posting screen grabs of the prices.
Kejriwal tweeted on Monday,“Strict action, incl permit cancellation n impounding vehicle, to be taken against taxis which charge rates more than govt prescribed rates.”(sic)
Facing the heat, aggregators Ola and Uber on Monday evening suspended the surge-pricing system. Ola said they were suspending it to support the government’s odd-even experiment.
“We have temporarily suspended the surge-in-price option but this is not for the entire two weeks of odd-even. We will be closely working with the government to see how to serve customers better,” said an Uber spokesperson.


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A realty organization with a presence in northeast Indiana has released a monthly housing market report. The Upstate Alliance of Realtors Multiple Listing Service Inc. says inventory levels dipped almost 18 percent in December, compared to the same period in 2014.
Inventory levels are now at 2,080 units and median sales prices were up nearly 3 percent to $115,000.
President Dave Mervar says "2015 was a strong year for real estate sales despite low inventory. Currently, monthly stats reflect the time of season we are in and reflect current consumer outlook on the economy. 2016 looks as promising as 2015 if consumer confidence continues to build as it has."
The organization that serves parts of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells and Whitley counties says other key numbers include:
- New Listings decreased 2.4 percent to 491.
- Pending Sales were up 9.0 percent to 422.
- Closed Sales decreased 6.3 percent to 531.
- Percent of Original List Price Received remained flat at 93.5.
- Months Supply of Inventory was down 26.2 percent to 3.1 months.


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The customer wore granny glasses and a floppy hat and Sydney Lynch — the woman whose rings the woman was eyeing at a San Francisco art fair — had no idea who she was.
“Honestly, I talked to her for 20 minutes before the light bulb went on.”
On Tuesday night, the Lincoln jewelry maker met Bonnie Raitt for a second time, backstage after the blues rocker with a voice of gold wowed the crowd at Pinewood Bowl, a designer ring flashing from her guitar-picking right hand.
“It was like hanging out with someone I’ve known forever,” Lynch said.
Lynch has been making jewelry forever and is nationally acclaimed for her one-of-a-kind designs — rings and necklaces, earrings and bracelets inspired by nature, gems set in gleaming gold and oxidized silver and sold in jewelry stores, galleries and at art fairs across the country.
She was tending her booth at the American Craft Council Show in 2014 when Raitt stopped to shop.
“She was with a friend and she’d tucked that mane of gorgeous hair into a big black hat and she was tiny.”
Raitt told Lynch she needed a ring that would stand up to constant wear.
“She said she worked with her hands. I almost said, ‘Oh, are you a potter?’”
(She’s glad she didn’t.)
“Then she said, ‘Oh, you’re from Lincoln, that’s cool,’ and I said, ‘Really, why?’ and she said, ‘Well, you know there’s a great blues club there.’”
(Raitt couldn’t remember the name, so Lynch supplied one: The Zoo Bar?)
That was it. And after more looking and more chatting, Raitt settled on a ring — five stacked bands adorned with three gemstones.
Lynch thanked her. Raitt paid her and signed her receipt: Bonnie O’Keefe.
And that’s when the light went on. Wait, Bonnie? Works with her hands? Loves the blues? (Once married to Michael O’Keefe, although Lynch didn’t know that at the time.)
But she did ask the question.
And, yes, yes, she was.
“It was all I could do to not scream and jump up and down and maintain some decorum,” said Lynch, who does not seem the screaming and jumping type.But wait, there's more!


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BMW Motorrad has showcased a new self-driving version of its R1200GS motorcycle.
The self-driving motorcycle can start its engine, accelerate, and stop autonomously – and can also lean into turns to maintain stability while driving.
BMW Motorrad stated that this self-driving vehicle is not being developed for consumers, but will instead be used to develop new safety features for conventional vehicles.
Specifically, the data collected from this prototype’s driving patterns will be used to alert inattentive drivers to dangerous behaviour.
“The prototype helps us to expand our knowledge about the vehicle’s dynamics so that we can classify the rider’s behavior and determine if a future situation will become dangerous or not,” the company said.
“If so, we can inform, warn, or intervene directly.”
Below is a video of the self-driving motorcycle in action.


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The World Health Organisation on Tuesday issued a product alert over contaminated syrup by an Indian manufacturer, warning that it is unsafe for use, especially in children, and may result in serious injury or death.
The WHO Medical Product Alert refers to a batch of substandard (contaminated) Guaifenesin syrup TG syrup identified in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia (Federated States of) and reported to WHO on April 6, 2023. The stated manufacturer of the affected product is QP Pharmachem Ltd (Punjab, India). The stated marketer of the product is Trillium Pharma (Haryana, India). To date, neither the stated manufacturer nor the marketer have provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products.
“The substandard product referenced in this Alert is unsafe and its use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death,” the alert said. There was no immediate comment from the manufacturer on the WHO alert. Guaifenesin is an expectorant used to relieve chest congestion and the symptoms of cough. Samples of the Guaifenesin syrup TG syrup from the Marshall Islands were analysed by quality control laboratories of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia. The analysis found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.
The product referenced in this alert may have marketing authorisations in other countries in the Western Pacific region. It may have also been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions, the alert by the global health agency said. The alert said that Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Who advised that if people have the affected product, they should not use it. WHO requests increased surveillance and diligence within the supply chains of countries and regions likely to be affected by these products. Increased surveillance of the informal/unregulated market is also advised. National regulatory authorities/health authorities are advised to immediately notify WHO if these substandard products are discovered in their respective country.
Manufacturers of liquid dosage forms, especially syrups that contain excipients including propylene glycol, sorbitol, and/or glycerin/glycerol, are urged to test for the presence of contaminants such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol before use in medicines. Healthcare professionals should report any suspicious cases of adverse events linked to the use of these contaminated medicines to the National Regulatory Authorities/ National Pharmacovigilance Centre, it said. Recently, questions have been raised over the quality of drugs manufactured by India-based companies. In February, the Tamil Nadu-based Global Pharma Healthcare recalled its entire lot of eye drop allegedly linked to vision loss in the US. Before that, India-made cough syrups were allegedly linked to children deaths in the Gambia and Uzbekistan last year.


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Decentralise Hong Kong’s business districts to ease traffic congestion
Ken Chu says focusing efforts on curbing private car numbers may not be effective. A better solution is to set up more urban core areas, such as by building the East Lantau Metropolis
Privately owned vehicles are often blamed for chronic traffic congestion, especially in the prime business and retail centres. To curb the growth of private car numbers, some people have called for the introduction of electronic road pricing in Hong Kong’s busiest areas, but opponents argue that it would unfairly penalise the poor while favouring the affluent.
While it is thought that better and more convenient public transport services should encourage people to ditch their cars for the train, bus or taxi, we should acknowledge that each public transport mode has its own limitations. For example, we cannot expect our MTR system to extend to every corner of the city.
Also, there is always a risk that better road-based public transport services may encourage more people to use them and, as a result, will lead to more traffic, contributing to congestion.
Moreover, there will always be people who choose to drive their own vehicles for reasons such as lifestyle preference or a negative perception of the public system, even though they know the roads are constantly gridlocked and that it is faster and more convenient to ride the MTR.
Private car users also say it is unfair to single them out for blame for the congested roads because there are other types of vehicles sharing the road.
In fact, some people argue that commercial goods vans loading and unloading goods, daytime roadworks, illegally parked vehicles and so forth are the real culprits for the jams in Hong Kong’s urban areas.
They also claim that the lack of car parks in the busy business centres and retail districts forces car drivers to cruise around in search of curbside parking spaces, thereby contributing to slower traffic. It is thus understandable that the closure of the Murray Road public car park gave rise to worries about its impact on the traffic in Central during peak hours.
Traffic congestion is common in major metropolises throughout the world. Hong Kong is no exception.
But if we look deeper into the problem, traffic jams in Hong Kong are mainly restricted to roads leading to the entrances of the cross-harbour tunnels on both sides of the harbour and a few main roads in the business and popular retail districts during peak hours.
It is normal to see cars move at a snail’s pace on Gloucester Road or intermittently stop on Queen’s Road Central.
As a matter of fact, the causes of congestion in major cities are complex, and vary from city to city. To name but a few, urban design, road width, the level of commercial activities within the concerned area, fuel costs and the availability of parking spaces are some of the factors.
Realistically, it is impossible to stop people completely using private vehicles. Perhaps it is time for the government to be far-sighted and creative in tackling the problem.
In land-scarce Hong Kong, it may be difficult to increase road capacity in core urban districts. We ought to consider spreading out our central business districts, which currently converge on both sides of Victoria Harbour, particularly in Central district and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Therefore, the proposed East Lantau Metropolis, on land to be reclaimed from the waters between Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island, where a new business district is envisaged, should be welcomed.
In addition, we should seriously consider building another cross-harbour tunnel, as the three current ones are terminally congested during busy hours, with a severe spillover impact on the traffic in the neighbourhoods.
To some, congestion is more a mobility problem than an issue of curbing the number of privately owned cars. Cars in motion are like blood circulating in the arteries. If somewhere within the road system is clogged, we will experience congestion. Therefore, as long as we can keep vehicles circulating within the road system, there will be no clogged areas.
Dr Ken Chu is group chairman and CEO of the Mission Hills Group and a National Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference


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J.C. Penney (JCP) shares rose 18.8 percent on January 26, as a result of a presentation in Manhattan. The company, now run by Ron Johnson, announced three major changes. First, J.C. Penney will adopt a more consistent, predictable pricing strategy. Second, stores will roll out a department strategy where each store will contain around 100 departments and each department will sell one brand name. Third, the company overhauled its marketing strategy by changing its logo and signing Ellen Degeneres to promote them. Personally, I find it baffling how a stock can skyrocket by so much by just announcing plans with no earnings to back up results. However, investors have a lot of reason to be excited about J.C. Penney's face lift.
Ron Johnson is definitely the right person to lead the way. He is most famous for his role of Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple (AAPL). After joining Apple in 2000, he took a company that had a very small direct retail presence and made Apple stores one of the most popular and profitable retail chains in the world. Before Apple, he was responsible for introducing designer names into Target's (NYSE:TGT) product line. J.C. Penney's announced plans are hopefully a continuation of Ron Johnson's innovation in retail. Last June, when it was announced that Ron Johnson would be the next CEO of J.C. Penny, shares rose by 17.5 percent. Good things tend to happen when Ron Johnson is giving news as investors are willing to get behind his past success and his future plans.
J.C. Penney is in serious need of a face lift. Including expectations for FY 2013, J.C. Penney is expected to have four straight years with under $18 billion in revenue, while the company posted revenue as high as $19.86 billion in FY 2008. J.C. Penney, although still profitable, is in danger of becoming a consistent loser similar to what Sears (SHLD) has become. These announced changes provide investors with confidence.
It will take some time to see if J.C. Penney's announced changes will significantly improve its bottom line. The company still has a 1-year target of $38, which is less than its price of $41.42 at the close of last Friday's trading. These new changes may be a response to a disappointing holiday season for J.C. Penney that investors don't know about yet. I suggest laying off of JCP until the February 24, earnings announcement, but over the long term, I believe that J.C. Penney will reclaim a spot at the top of the department store space and Ron Johnson's leadership will create the spark that J.C. Penney needs.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.


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JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) — Outdoor power equipment company Ariens Specialty Brands is closing its plant in Janesville by the end of the year, idling 140 employees.
WKOW-TV reports the layoffs come as Ariens announced it will exit the direct marketing business in an effort to focus on its core power equipment business.
It has signed agreements to sell two of the three brands that make up the division and it continues to explore options on the third. Company officials met with employees in Janesville on Tuesday. Eligible employees will be provided with a severance package based on the number of years of service.
Last week, the company announced that it was also closing its plant in southeast Nebraska.
Another 193 employees at the Auburn plant will be affected. The shutdown is expected to be finished between Aug. 17 and Oct. 15.
According to the company, production will be moved to the company headquarters plant in Brillion, Wisconsin, as a way to hold down costs.
“The difficult decision to divest of these brands is to ensure we focus our resources on the tremendous growing demand for Ariens and Gravely brands of lawn and snow equipment. The past three years has provided record growth in this core business” says Dan Ariens, Chairman and CEO. “It will allow us to concentrate capital and talent in our manufacturing operations.”


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SAN DIEGO — While some crime rates plummeted in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, auto thefts only rose in California, with increases over each of the last two years.
In San Diego County, thieves targeted a specific set of car owners more than any others: Honda drivers. Specifically, people who own older-model Civics and Accords should practice vigilance, according to the district attorney’s Regional Auto Theft Task Force.
The agency recently shared its lists of the top 10 most-stolen cars, motorcycles and trucks with FOX 5. Older Civics and Accords dominated the charts in 2021.
A task force spokesperson told FOX 5 that’s not only because Hondas are so common — thieves also find the older models easier to steal. Police declined to specifically outline why that’s the case, but security measures have certainly improved alongside other technology in newer cars.
Statewide statistics bear out the local trends: The three most-stolen trucks and cars in California were from years 1998 through 2002, according to California Highway Patrol data from 2020. The top three cars were all Honda Civics from varying years.
Here are the most-stolen cars, trucks and motorcycles in San Diego County last year, according to CHP data collected by the task force:
Most-stolen cars in San Diego County, 2021:
Most-stolen trucks in San Diego County, 2021:
Honda’s CR-V, a compact crossover that CHP classifies as a personal truck, tops the list for 2021. It’s followed by traditional pickups: the Chevy Silverado and two of Ford’s trucks.
Most-stolen motorcycles in San Diego County, 2021:
Yamaha and Honda dominated the most-stolen bikes list for the San Diego region last year.
Police had a harder time tracking motorcycles down, as the stats show a much lower rate of recovery. Thieves steal sports bikes and sell them in parts on the black market, according to the task force, which helps explain why fewer riders ever see their beloved motorcycles again.
You can anonymously tip off the Regional Auto Theft Task Force to an illegal “chop shop” or other auto theft activity at 1-888-TELLRAT (5728).
The task force has a helpful stolen car FAQ that includes information unique to San Diego, including how to handle a stolen car ending up in Mexico. In that case, authorities say you’ll have to obtain an official police report from a police agency south of the border and submit it to CHP.
Trying to protect your car? The task force recommends these auto theft prevention tips from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Drivers also have a spate of catalytic converters thefts to worry about. Thieves steal the emissions control devices, located under vehicles, and sell them for the precious metals they contain. Watch FOX 5’s interview with a local mechanic for more on how to protect your vehicle from that crime.


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After a 90-minute debate between the owner of a Bakerville car detail business and neighborhood residents Wednesday night, the chairman of the planning and zoning commission said the panel will decide on the shop's future before the end of the month.
Carmine Valentino of Torrington wants the commission to change a land use classification to allow Auto Clean to remain at 1120 Litchfield Turnpike. The property currently only allows for a construction storage site, a regulation that land use administrator Karl Nilson said could date back to 1956.
Town ordinances don't allow for an auto repair or maintenance garage to be within 300 feet of, among other structures, a church or a library. The Litchfield Turnpike location is within that distance of a Methodist church and the Bakerville Library.
Valentino defended himself to the commission and to neighbor Neal Yates, who provided a strongly worded argument signed by more than 20 other residents of the area.
"I'm not here to cause any problems," Valentino said before a crowd of about 60. "I didn't know about all these rules and regulations."
Valentino said he does not do repair work or provide a car wash service. He cleans the interior and exterior of used cars before they are sold at dealerships in Torrington and Canton, Valentino said. His business averages between six and eight cars daily.
The chemicals he uses are biodegradable and can be bought in retail versions at stores like Wal-Mart and Pep Boys, Valentino said.
"I do what somebody can do in their driveway on a Sunday," he said in an interview before the meeting. "But on a bigger scale."
Yates argued passionately that the business acts as an auto maintenance garage. He also raised questions about the chemicals Valentino uses to clean the cars and the effect they have on the area, which is a watershed to a nearby reservoir.
"We have the law on our side, we have the regulations on our side," Yates said. "We want Auto Clean shut down from this location."
Kim Ciccarello, president of the Bakerville Library, read a letter opposing the business drafted by the library's board of directors Monday.
Valentino began renting and running his business out of the property in January and said he plans to buy it. Auto Clean was formerly run out of a Harwinton auto shop that burned down last year.
After the public hearing, chairman James Steadman said the commission will make a ruling before the end of the month.
Contact Edward Jacovino at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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'F1 Race Stars' from Codemasters for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.
Gamers can now get a feel for the tracks before Codemasters' F1 Race Stars releases on November 13.
Now available, the demo of the fast and frenetic cart-racing game F1 Race Stars is a free download on the Xbox 360. The playable demo will be available tomorrow, November 8 on Steam (PC), and on November 13 for the PlayStation 3.
To commemorate the demo's release, Codemasters has also provided gamers with a new gameplay trailer showing F1 stars zooming past giant sumo robots in Japan, racing through a carnival in Brazil and dodging a Truckosaurus on the USA track.
Furthermore, the company has stated that consumers who preorder F1 Race Stars from GameStop will receive a special Valencia Street Circuit Edition, which includes a free download code for an additional European Track set around the speedy city streets of Valencia, Spain.
F1 Race Stars releases November 13 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. The game is rated "E for Everyone" by the ESRB.


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Ride sharing service “FREE NOW” which took over from Romanian startup company “Clever” has announced that they will end their activity in Romania from September 2022.
The service, which is very similar to Uber and Bolt, has often been considered as one of the more competitive service providers, with generally lower pricing and also the unique ability to request a taxi directly through the app, instead of exclusively offering private cars.
The platform owners sent an email to their customers stating,
“We regret to inform you that the FREE NOW app will no longer be available for our users in Romania as of September 1, 2022. We have made the decision to cease operations in this country with great difficulty, and we will always remain extremely grateful to our passengers and drivers who were part of the FREE NOW story in Romania.
We will continue to focus on current investments in key markets in Europe, where our multimobility offering is growing.”
It had been rumoured for a long time, that the company had not been making profits in Romania, especially since the costs of fuel have increased considerably.
Bolt and Uber remain as the two ride-sharing services in Cluj, however Uber has been plagued with unreliable services, such as drivers canceling at the last minute or sometimes no drivers accepting rides at all. Bolt prices also have increased over the past few months, with peak times sometimes being more than double the price of a standard taxi.