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As an industry, we all know that over the past couple of years the UK PV sector has taken some serious knocks. Many established, successful companies in the supply chain have had to implement large cuts in their workforce due to the FiT-related drop in demand and the lower profits available from module sales after the dramatic price drops.
What may be less obvious to us island inhabitants is that mainland Europe has arguably been going through even harder times – especially in the manufacturing sector. This much was clear at this year’s EU PVSEC conference & exhibition in Paris. This annual event is recognised as probably the best scientific PV conference in the world and two years ago the number of companies exhibiting alongside the conference was around 1000. This year the 250 exhibitors had a fairly quiet time. But one thing that was interesting was that when I walked onto an exhibition stand and asked about selling products into the UK, there was usually immediate interest. The UK is nowhere near as large a market as Germany or China, but we are currently seen as one of the markets with the best potential in Europe and about sixth in the world for installations in the first half of 2013 (figures from Solarbuzz). The FiT scheme is now seen as stable and this gives us, as a market, a great advantage over countries where the support mechanisms are still uncertain.
So, what to make of this? Well, I believe this is good news for all involved in the UK supply chain because it means we can expect better products and more variety to become available – this line in thinking is borne out by the current high demand for BRE Global’s product certification services. More standardised BIPV products would be especially welcome. Of course, more products are no use without the demand but the evidence is that this is starting to pick up again. Since the return on investment is still reckoned to be about 10 percent, the final piece of the jigsaw would appear to be a question of marketing – telling potential buyers about the latest products and how PV is still an excellent investment.


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February 8, 2012 Birmingham News by Matt Lloyd
EMBATTLED traders at Birmingham’s wholesale markets demanded emergency talks with council bosses after they were hit with a 22 per cent hike in service charges.
Workers at the Pershore Street site said the rise – an extra £3,000 per unit – would see them hand over about £16,000 to the city council for every stall they ran.
They are already at loggerheads with the authority over the future of the markets after a planned relocation deal fell through last year.
But a council spokesman said the charges had been brought up to normal levels after years of taxpayer-funded subsidies.
Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association chairman Mark Tate said traders wanted a breakdown of costs and a meeting with council bosses.
He said: “We’ve asked for information but none has been forthcoming. We’ve asked for an emergency meeting and they’ve just said they’ll come back to us. Traders are angry.”
Continue Reading. . . .
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In a report released yesterday, Peter Saleh from BTIG reiterated a Buy rating on Starbucks (SBUX – Research Report), with a price target of $130.00. The company’s shares closed last Thursday at $122.75, close to its 52-week high of $126.32.
According to TipRanks.com, Saleh is a 5-star analyst with an average return of 24.7% and a 76.2% success rate. Saleh covers the Services sector, focusing on stocks such as Papa John’s International, Texas Roadhouse, and Domino’s Pizza.
Starbucks has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $133.57, representing an 8.7% upside. In a report issued on July 16, Oppenheimer also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $140.00 price target.
Based on Starbucks’ latest earnings release for the quarter ending June 30, the company reported a quarterly revenue of $7.5 billion and net profit of $1.15 billion. In comparison, last year the company earned revenue of $4.22 billion and had a GAAP net loss of $678 million.
TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities.
Founded in 1985, Starbucks Corp. is a Washington-based roaster and retailer of specialty coffee, with over 30,000 stores in 80 markets. It operates through three segments, including Americas, International and Channel Development. Starbucks stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole bean and ground coffees, single-serve and ready-to-drink beverages, food items such as pastries, sandwiches, salads, oatmeals, as well as a variety of merchandise. The company’s leading brands include Evolution Fresh, Teavana, Tazo Tea and Seattle’s Best.


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People suck up to vacuum cleaners
Study finds deep attachments
Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, October 3, 2007
ATLANTA -- People give them nicknames, worry when they signal for help and sometimes even treat them like trusted pets.
A newly released Georgia Tech study shows that some Roomba owners become deeply attached to the robotic vacuums and suggests there's a measure of public readiness to accept additional robots in the house -- even flawed ones.
"They're more willing to work with a robot that does have issues because they really, really like it," said Beki Grinter, an associate professor at the school's College of Computing. "It sort of begins to address more concerns: If we can design things that are somewhat emotionally engaging, it doesn't have to be as reliable."
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Grinter decided to study the devices after she saw online pictures of people dressing up their Roombas, disc-shaped, self-directed vacuums made by iRobot Corp.
"This sort of notion that someone would dress a vacuum cleaner seemed strange," she said. "A lot more was going on."
More than 2 million of the robots have been sold, although early versions suffered motor failures and other problems after intensive use.
Grinter enlisted doctoral student Ja Young Sung, who studies "emotional design" -- the theory that certain types of design can influence consumers to become emotionally attached.
First, Sung Young monitored an online forum devoted to Roombas, which revealed people who named them and traveled with them and one owner who introduced the machine to his parents.
Others reported their efforts to "Roomba-ize" their homes so the robot can roam the floors more easily. Some bought new rugs, precleaned the floors to clear the robot's route and purchased new refrigerators with a higher clearance so their machines could clean under them easier.
Next she studied 30 committed Roomba users and found that 21 had named their robots. Sixteen others referred to the robot as "he," arbitrarily assigning the robot a gender.
The third phase of the study, presented last week at the Ubiquitous Computing Conference in Austria, focused on more traditional users. Polling 379 U.S. users, it found that some would preclean their homes before using the machine, and that it seemed to make males more excited about the chore of vacuuming.
And that could have profound implications for the future of vacuuming.
"Forty years of women's liberation hasn't done much for the redistribution of vacuuming labor," Grinter said.
"But robotics -- that has promise."


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Nutritionists from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute have teamed up with local fish producer, Sutherland’s of Portsoy, to help create healthy grocery boxes.
Staff from the Institute’s Human Nutrition Unit would normally be cooking and preparing food for volunteers taking part in research studies, however with everyone working from home, the team have turned their attention to creating nutritious recipes for the local community. Working with Sutherland’s of Portsoy, Rowett staff have produced recipe cards to accompany the produce in the grocery boxes being delivered around the north of Scotland.The cards are designed to give people the opportunity to create their own tasty meals using the produce from the box.
Dr Julia Mitchell from the Rowett Institute said: “We are delighted to be able to join forces with Sutherland’s of Portsoy to help come up with some healthy and nutritional recipes based on what is included in the grocery boxes.”
“The recipes provide cooking and nutritional information which can be changed and added to depending on what you have in your fridge, freezer or cupboards. While they are going out with the grocery boxes delivered by John’s team, the recipes are also available for everyone to view or download from the Rowett website.”
“Many people will be missing visiting restaurants and eating out, but hopefully our recipes will provide inspiration for some healthy home cooking.”
John Farley from Sutherland’s of Portsoy added: “We felt as we had the infrastructure already in place with our door to door fish van sales, we have a social and moral obligation to help the vulnerable in these troubled times.”
“The service is of significant value to those using it being in what we term the food desert of the north east. The elderly customer base we have serviced for years appreciate being able to access protein, plant and pleasure from one box, but for me working with the Rowett to mitigate waste of both product and packaging is equally as important. To create a fresh food source which can be made into nutritious meals has to be the way forward once this virus has passed. Moving away from processed products which do little to improve our well being has so much value- I feel we can expand this project further as the weeks develop.”
To view the recipes visit https://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/policy-industry/sutherlands.php or for more information about the grocery boxes contact John Kelly, Operations Director based at Portsoy on 01261 842448 or visit https://gourmetschoice.net/


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Since the founding of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, one of the key sectors for the prosperity of the Cypriot economy, is tourism. Nowadays, in 2017, after many efforts and actions of the Government and the Private sector in general, the number of tourist arrivals are increasing and the expectations are rising.
The last years, Cyprus is first in tourist arrivals among all Member States, based on statistical data of the European Union. Particularly in 2016, tourist arrivals increased by 20%, meaning that 3,2 million tourists coming from different parts of the world visited Cyprus, and the net revenue exceeded the sum of 2,5 billion euro. Tourism sector occupies approximately 15% of Cuprus’s population, and every Cypriot corresponds to 4 tourists. Its profits equal to 12,7% of GDP of the Republic of Cyprus that make evident its importance for the civil prosperity and the local economy.
The year of 2017 is the best year in score of tourist arrivals, since the fact that in the first 9 months the number increased by 14,7% and according to the estimations of the Ministry of Tourism more than 3, 7 million tourists will visit Cyprus until the end of the year.The rapid development of the tourism sector attracted numerous new investments, which will reinforce its capacity and will cause an increase in tourists’ arrivals, while they will upgrade the quality of the services provided and the competitiveness of the sector.
The marina of Limassol, that operates since 2014, the Ayia Napa marina, that its construction started recently and the marina of Larnaca, that is going through the last stage of investor selection, will provide Cyprus with the opportunity to attract a new kind of tourists and visitors. Large investments in the hotel industry are being made across Cyprus and almost all already existent hotels are being renovated by adding new rooms and best to address the increasing needs of the forthcoming year.
In addition, the first casino resort of Cyprus, which will operate for the first time in 2020 under the principle of Melco-Hard Rock Company, will broaden the capacity of the tourist service products. This investment is estimated to surpass the net revenue of 0,5 billion euro and will correspond to the standards of the casinos in Las Vegas. It will be one of a kind casino resort, not only in the East Mediterranean region but in the whole Europe. It is also estimated to attract more than 500.000 visitors and many other investments in order for the resort to address the needs of the new era.
The vast increase in demand, by tourists coming from all over the world to spend their holidays in the island, the large investments in hotel units, the completion of the marina in Limassol, the new marinas of Ayia Napa and of Larnaca and of the casino resort upgrade the tourist product services. Thus, the future of the tourism sector in Cyprus is promising. The prospects and demands are constantly increasing while the economy sector starts to look upon tourism as one of the main sectors that will provide stability and will reinforce the positive development rates.


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FURTHER to the success of the existing offline touchpoints, OnePlus, the leading premium smartphone maker has recently set up an authorised store in Pune. The store has opened at Phoenix Market City, Pune.
This is in line with the company’s increased focus on additional offline touchpoints in India considering that the Indian market is the biggest revenue contributor for OnePlus, making for over one-third of the company’s revenue in 2017. In 2018, OnePlus is set to open over 10 new offline touchpoints in 10 key markets. Additionally, the Shenzhen-based company will also be opening an R&D centre in India in line with its commitment to make India its second headquarters.
According to the recently released Counterpoint Market Monitor Service Data Q2 2018, OnePlus has emerged as the leader in the premium smartphone segment in India with 40 per cent market share, followed by Samsung and Apple at 34 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. OnePlus was also the fastest growing smartphone brand annually, growing at 284 per cent.
Speaking on the occasion, Vikas Agarwal, GM at OnePlus India, said, “India is our largest market and the community here is one of the most engaged and vocal user-base at OnePlus. Following their positive response to the existing experience and authorized stores, we have decided to increase the number of offline touchpoints in the country. Pune is one of our most important markets. There is a growing new segment of young students and tech-savvy users who are upgrading to premium smartphones. This is the segment that we appeal to, owing to our focus on bringing the best technology and we expect OnePlus to be the brand of choice, in the premium smartphone segment for them”.
OnePlus opened their first offline store in the form of the OnePlus Experience Store in January 2017 in Bangalore which has been an overwhelming success for the company. Since the opening of the store, OnePlus’ offline as well as online sales have grown exponentially. When compared with the OnePlus 5, OnePlus 6 sales volumes in the OnePlus Experience Store grew at a staggering 91%. The company noticed that customers who are able to touch-and-feel the device are more confident about their purchases and feel more comfortable with the brand. By increasing offline touchpoints with consumers through offline stores, service centres and pop-ups, the company looks to improve customer experience by giving them first-hand opportunity to use the device before purchase.
Earlier this month, OnePlus set up three new authorized stores in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. The response to all three outlets has been highly positive. For both Mumbai and Bangalore, these are the second additions to the line of existing offline touchpoints.


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DataWind, which is known more as the company behind the much-talked about Akash tablet have now launched another tablet in the market - 7SC. The tablet is priced at Rs 2,999 and offers free Internet browsing for one year. The company has tied up with RComand Telenor network who will be providing the prepaid GSM SIM for this tablet and offering free Internet.
DataWind has also inked a deal with Den Snapdeal TV-Shop for selling these tablets through the latter's 24X7 TV-commerce channel.
The tablet supports regular voice calling functionality and it has a 7-inch display with a screen resolution of 800x480. The tablet 7SC is powered by Single Core with 512 MB of RAM. It comes with 4GB internal memory. It runs on Android 4.4.2 and supports Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and micro-USB connectivity options.
There is no mention of the battery in tow but the company claims it will deliver 6 to 8 hours worth of juice.
DataWind claims that it is the cheapest tablet that offers cellular connectivity.
Commenting on the launch, Suneet Singh Tuli, President and CEO of DataWind Inc. said, "The new range of smartphones and tablets are powered with free unlimited Internet browsing for a year on Reliance Communications (RCom) and Telenor network."


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In January, Facebook unveiled Graph Search, a more robust search tool that's being slowly rolled out to users. It uses the mountains of data the site collects to expand what a query on the site can find.
Planning a trip and want a list of college friends who have moved to London? No problem. Co-workers who also like "Game of Thrones?" Check. How about Facebook photos from National Parks? You got it. And, to take it to a somewhat different place, how about single friends of friends who live in the same city you do? Also doable.
Facebook is taking its time. Only a few hundred thousand of the site's hundreds of millions of users have gotten access so far, and the company is tweaking the test version of the feature as it goes.
Tom Stocky, product manager for search at Facebook, visited CNN headquarters recently and shared thoughts on the social-media giant's biggest product launch in some time. The following interview has been edited for style and brevity:
CNN: How's the rollout process been so far, and what early customer feedback have you received?
Stocky: We're still rolling out very slowly. It's still in beta. Even though hundreds of thousand of people have it now, and that sounds like a big number, Facebook overall features over a billion users so still a small percentage of the user base.
However, it's enough where we're starting to get feedback, and the reception so far has been pretty positive. People seem to find it most useful around people and photos queries. Places are the thing they are starting to like as well. And the things we continue hearing in terms of where we need to improve is, we have to do a much better job understanding everything that people type into the search box.
Users phrase queries in many different ways and than we initially anticipated and we have to invest in that. For example, the number of different of ways refer to friends. We had to build the product to recognize "buddies," "pals," "besties" and all of the other variations of the word "friend."
How is a Facebook Graph Search different from a Google Web search?
It's different in a lot of ways. One obvious way is users are only searching on related results in Facebook with Graph Search as opposed to a Web search where you're searching across all indexed documents on the Web.


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Sysco Teams Up With SAVRpak to Strengthen Delivery Operations; Judy Sansone and Greg Maselli Share
HOUSTON, TX - In our industry, finding the perfect partner is akin to Goldilocks and the Three Bears, eventually you are going to find the one that is just right for your vision. This is the case as Sysco Corporation has announced an exclusive partnership with SAVRpak to deliver its patented food preservation technology to independent and local chain restaurants across the nation. Through this new agreement, Sysco will add SAVRpak “freshness packs” to its Cutting Edge Solutions platform, making the technology immediately available to its customers.
“We are very excited to offer SAVRpak to Sysco’s customers through the Cutting Edge Solutions platform,” said Judy Sansone, Sysco Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “Takeout meals will continue to be an important offering for restaurants, and this new technology will support our customers’ success by ensuring that meals provided through takeout, delivery, or curbside travel well and taste the same as dine-in.”
SAVRpack is a frozen, peel-and-stick patch that removes moisture from the air of food containers, keeping it away from the meal and ensuring both hot and cold foods remain fresh in transit. According to a press release, the patented technology was developed by an aerospace engineer.
The unique company’s solution is paper and plant-based, uses no chemicals, and is expecting to receive its biodegradable certification later this year. SAVRpak has also been named a winner of the 2021 P&G Ventures Innovation Challenge and Best Sustainable Packaging in the 2021 World Food Innovation Awards.
“The partnership with Sysco is a gamechanger for SAVRpak,” commented Greg Maselli, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of SAVRpak. “Sysco’s unparalleled distribution network will help us get our food preservation technology into the hands of restaurant operators around the country and change the way they serve takeout and delivery food.”
As Sysco continues its mission to provide key solutions to its foodservice customers, what new partnerships and innovations wait on the horizon? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop.


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SPRINGFIELD — A bill allowing for the home-delivery of liquor passed the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday, with its sponsor promising to bring an amended proposal back for further discussion.
State Sen. Don Harmon’s Senate Bill 54 passed unanimously. Harmon said he was still working with the liquor control commission and other groups to fine-tune the bill before it comes to a vote before the full chamber.
The bill allows retail liquor licensees to deliver alcohol straight to a consumer’s door, provided certain conditions such as age verification and training are met.
“In this new world of innovation where we now are able to order our groceries for delivery, this is an effort to ensure when we order our bread and meat we can also order of bottle of wine,” Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, said.
Other alcoholic beverages, such as beer and liquor, would be included under the bill as well. The deliverer of the beverages would be required to verify that the person accepting it was of legal drinking age.
The bill also allows the retail licensee to use a third-party facilitator to deliver the beverages, and establishes the cost of a license fee for such a facilitator to be $1,100.


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SMEs expect recovery by summer 2022
Small and medium sized businesses that have suffered due to Covid-19 don’t expect to recover to pre-pandemic levels until summer 2022, according to new research published by Santander UK.
With the UK now well into a vaccination programme that many hope will enable the economy to start reopening, ongoing cashflow issues and a decline in consumer demand means that one-in-twelve (8%) small businesses do not expect to survive the pandemic. 21% of UK SMEs say they are ‘not sure’ if they will survive long enough to take advantage of any change in the current restrictions.
The data reveals that Covid-19 is likely to widen regional disparity, with London firms forecasting a decrease of 3.8% in profits by March 2021, compared to before the pandemic. Comparing this to the East Midlands (-11.6%), West Midlands (-9.3%), Yorkshire and the Humber (-8.0%) and the North West (-7.1%), it is clear that tailored, regional support will be vital in helping these important business hubs recover.
Unsurprisingly, mental health issues are a growing concern for small business owners. Two-fifths (39%) of women running small businesses reported a decline in their mental health since the Covid-19 outbreak, compared to 26% of their male counterparts. Women were also less likely to seek support when it came to maintaining mental wellbeing, with 41% stating they would not ask for help – 5% more than that of male business owners (36%).
Susan Davies, head of business banking, Santander UK, commented: “Small businesses have proven their resilience so far, and their hunger to survive and thrive is palpable. With the growth of remote working, small businesses across the country will be at the forefront of our economic revival, but 2021 will be a crunch year for many, with a lot riding on a successful vaccine rollout.
“While there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution, extensions to VAT deferrals, the furlough scheme and business rates relief could provide businesses with additional breathing space. We have been working tirelessly to support small business owners throughout the pandemic – from online workshops, ecommerce training and mental health support – and we will continue to help them find solutions to the huge challenges they are currently facing.”
Just two-in-five (42%) small businesses report that they have not had to halt any part of their operations since the outbreak of the pandemic, with respondents seeing their profits slump by 16.5% on average.
SMEs run by people from ethnic minority backgrounds experienced the most significant decline in business activity, with almost half (47%) seeing a dip since the Covid-19 outbreak. According to the data, 67% of businesses run by ethnic minorities were operating ‘well’ at the start of last year, compared to just 20% when the pandemic hit. The difference (33%) was less extreme in non-ethnic minority run businesses, where respondents experienced a decline in performance from 58% to 25%.
One-in-five (18%) SMEs have started or increased sales through online platforms as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, however 63% stated that selling their product or services online or through social media was not an option. The disparity makes clear that there are a significant number of businesses that are simply unable to generate revenue, reiterating the importance of additional support through government lending schemes and tax reliefs.
There is doubt cast on the future of the high street, as 29% of small businesses are set to leave city centre hubs this year. Almost one-in-five (18%) SMEs that are currently located on the high street say they plan to relocate, while a further 11% think it is looking likely that they will have to permanently close their business.
In addition to the £4bn of financial support provided through the government-backed Bounce Back Loans (BBLS) to SMEs since the scheme launch, Santander UK has harnessed its business insight and sector experts in order to provide vital non-financial support across the UK. Santander’s business support programme ‘Survive and Revive’ includes initiatives such as webinars and mentoring, free advertising on Santander Marketplace and toolkits all of which have helped businesses to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. A full list of the initiatives can be found below:
- Mental Health support: As well as providing SMEs with helpful tips and guidance on maintaining mental wellbeing, we have partnered with Thrive, an NHS-approved tool, to help prevent and manage stress, anxiety and related conditions. We are also partnering with MIND, the mental health charity, to enhance customer-facing colleagues’ knowledge and awareness of mental health, including how best to respond to and support our customers.
- Business Mentoring: Running a business is no small feat, and we believe that learning from successful business owners and entrepreneurs is the best way to help SME owners avoid pitfalls. That’s why we successfully paired 200 mentor/mentee relationships in 2020 and will continue this programme into 2021 and beyond. The Women Business Leaders’ Mentoring Programme is open for applications now.
- Webinars: We have partnered with sector specialists and trade bodies to provide unique insight into a range of issues across different sectors. With topics ranging from ‘Supply Chain Resilience’ to ‘Managing Margins During Volatility’ and ‘Innovating for Growth’ our webinars get to the crux of many issues facing small businesses during the pandemic.
- Elavon: We’ve teamed up with Elavon to offer a range of card acceptance services to help businesses to adapt to changing trading environments. Elavon is also offering eShop enabling businesses to build their own website, with the functionality to trade online and promote their business too.
- Local relationship teams: Our business relationship teams span the UK and support SMEs in myriad ways – from offering advice on managing cashflow and repayment holidays, to supporting businesses to find local support through our network of relationships with local enterprise partners.
- Santander Marketplace: As part of our business support programme, we launched Marketplace, which offers free advertising for UK businesses to help them and the wider UK economy to get back on their feet.


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This Actress Beat Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone And Topped India’s Google Celebrity Search List
Every year, Google releases a list of which Indian celebrities who were searched the most on the web. Well you won't be surprised with this year's winner. Salman Khan has topped the most searched Indian male celebrity list leaving Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and various others behind. We aren't' surprised. Salman Khan made headlines for his ‘rape comment', which ended up becoming a national debate. In fact, several stories unfolded post the comment and the variations lead to people Google searching for this superstar even more than usual. Moreover, he has one of the biggest releases this year: Sultan.
Can you guess who topped the female star list? It isn't Priyanka Chopra nor is it Deepika Padukone but it's none other than ... Sunny Leone. Yes, the Splitsvilla anchor is killing it online as she topped the Google search list in the celebrity female category. Sunny has constantly been in news for her item songs, interviews and beauty. We are quite surprised with this result.
Moreover, in the classic category, actress Rekha topped the actress list while Amitabh Bachchan lead the actors. Agree with the results? Let us know.
Read iDiva for the latest in Bollywood, fashion looks, beauty and lifestyle news.
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“Aer Lingus tells me they issued the refund and I have to call Orbitz. I got called back from Orbitz four hours after I called,” said Ms. Woolard a retired nurse from Winston-Salem, N.C. “I had to wait another hour to speak to someone. Orbitz said they cannot access my records and that I may not get the refund until the end of 2021,” more than 18 months after the flight was canceled. “I know the airlines are struggling, but you just feel so helpless,” she said.
The holdup in the refund, according to Nisreene Atassi, a company spokeswoman, stemmed from a glitch in the Orbitz computer system which rejected the refund because it had been authorized after the one-year expiration period. (After an inquiry by The Times, Ms. Woolard has now received her refund.)
To improve its customer service, Expedia has hired an additional 500 representatives for its companies to add to its 6,000 total across 30 countries, Mr. Singh said, but it takes three months to train them before they can do the job. Likewise, American Airlines said that it is hiring “hundreds” of customer service agents to deal with the increased call volume.
Expedia expects customers to see improvements soon. Its companies can now handle 80 percent of flight cancellation requests through its websites, up from 10 percent at the start of the pandemic. And by August, it expects to be able to answer 80 percent of its customer service calls within 20 seconds or less, Ms. Atassi said.
With more customer service representatives for the airlines and online travel agencies, wait times should begin to ease. For those who still can’t get satisfaction from either, Bill McGee, Consumer Reports’ aviation adviser, recommends that passengers contest the charges with their credit card issuer. “According to the Fair Credit Billing Act, you’re entitled to a refund if you don’t get goods and services,” Mr. McGee said. “Quite a few readers have gotten satisfaction this way.”
Both Mastercard and Visa require transaction disputes to be filed within 120 days of the original payment. But the price cannot be refunded if the original ticket was a nonrefundable fare, a Visa spokesperson said.
Even with the more-generous expiration dates, vouchers will still eventually expire and the customer will forfeit the amount if the voucher is not used. If specific circumstances prevent a customer from traveling by next spring, American Airlines will work with customers on an individualized basis, said Andrea Koos, a senior manager of corporate communications at American Airlines.


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William Eccleshare, the company’s chairman and chief executive, said he would work "more closely" with the outdoor ad company’s business units as Clear Channel adapts to become a fully digital medium.
Dearden was the UK chief executive of Clear Channel up until 2014, having joined the company in 2010, during which time it introduced the UK’s first roadside digital network of two square metre HD screens in London. He was replaced as UK CEO by Justin Cochrane, the former chief operating officer for Europe.
Prior to Clear Channel, he was marketing director for BT’s consumer business and has also held roles in digital TV at telecoms at Telewest after srtating his career as an assistant brand manager at Procter & Gamble.
Last month he was appointed as the president of FEPE International, the global association of outdoor advertising companies.
Patrick Ugeux, the chief transformation officer at Clear Channel International, has also left the business.
There is no information about whether Dearden or Ugeux have got jobs to go to.
Eccleshare said: "Out-of-home is transitioning into a truly digital medium thanks to the creative and engagement opportunities made possible by new technologies.
"To help us realise these opportunities at speed and scale I will be working more closely with our business units. CCI is building an agile advertising culture, allowing us to be able to quickly respond to the changing needs of our customers, and deliver creative, smart and effective audience-based solutions."


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UTAH (ABC4) — The Utah Division of Consumer Protection has reportedly secured more than $1.37 million from the owner of TurboTax, Intuit Inc., for consumers who have been deceived into paying for tax services that should have been free.
Consumers who qualify for the settlement money will automatically receive notices and a check by mail. Officials said individuals should expect to receive a direct payment of about $29 for each year they were deceived into paying for their services.
Following a multistate agreement, Intuit has agreed to pay $141 million in restitution to consumers across the country who were deceived into paying for tax services that were supposed to be free. Utah has secured a total of $1,376,844 from Intuit to pay back deceived consumers.
“Intuit tricked people into paying to file their taxes instead of directing them towards the federally supported free tax services. This settlement is a reminder to all that those who perpetrate deceptive practices will be held accountable,” said Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce Margaret Busse.
Intuit will reportedly provide restitution to consumers who began using Turbox Tax’s Free Edition to file taxes for 2016 through 2018 and were told they had to pay to file even though they could have filed for free through the IRS Free File program.
“We are pleased with the settlement,” said Division of Consumer Protection Director Katherine Hart. “Settlement checks are in the mail, and impacted consumers should see them soon.”
Additionally, Intuit will suspend its “free, free, free” ad campaign, which advertises free tax services to consumers who ultimately were tricked into paying for the services.
According to the Utah Department of Commerce, Intuit has also agreed to reform some of its business practices, including:
- Refraining from making misrepresentations in connection with promoting or offering any online tax preparation products
- Enhancing disclosures in its advertising and marketing of free products
- Designing its products to better inform users whether they will be eligible to file their taxes for free
- Refraining from requiring consumers to start their tax filing over if they exit one of Intuit’s paid products to use a free product instead
All 50 states and the District of Columbia joined this agreement. The multi-state investigation was led by New York and Tennessee with support from the attorneys general of Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.


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Three popular Manchester restaurants have made the shortlist and been nominated for a British Curry Award this year.
Nominated by the public, a selection of the UK’s favourite curry restaurants will be honoured in the 17th annual awards on November 29.
The British Curry Awards champions the finest curry restaurateurs from across the UK and recognises them as serving up the best dishes for their region.
This year’s ceremony has particular significance, given the challenges faced by the industry over the past 18 months of the pandemic, and will acknowledge the industry’s spirit and resilience through difficult business and personal circumstances.
Three local restaurants, all based in Manchester City Centre, have made the shortlist:
Asha's, Peter Street
Dishoom Manchester, Bridge Street
Scene Indian Street Kitchen, Irwell Square
Recognised globally as the original and most respected award ceremony in the UK curry industry and the ‘Curry Oscars’, as highlighted by former Prime Minister David Cameron, British Curry Awards will welcome prominent personalities from the worlds of politics, sport, showbiz and entertainment.
Celebrity chefs and curry restaurant owners from across the country will also attend the prestigious event.
The ceremony will also shine a light on the industry leaders, pioneers, restaurateurs and staff that tragically lost their lives to Covid.
British Curry Awards Founder, Enam Ali MBE, the UK’s leading spokesperson for the curry industry and owner of Le Raj curry restaurant said: “It gives me great joy that, after the challenges of the last 18 months, my industry friends in the UK curry fraternity and public figures will unite once again in person at the home of the British Curry Awards – Battersea Evolution – to celebrate the nation’s favourite curry houses while also recognising the issues we, as an industry and as a nation, have faced during the pandemic.
"Testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of the cross-generational migrant community that comprises the UK’s curry industry, we have come back ever more determined to serve curry lovers up and down the country, continuing to take on all challenges head on and ensure the industry continues to thrive once again.
"At the same time, we will pay tribute to our industry colleagues that we have sadly lost to Covid. Their presence is deeply missed among us.”
The finest curry restaurateurs from across the UK will visit London at the end of the month in the hope of being honoured with a jewel in the crown of the UK curry restaurant industry award sector.
A nationwide nominations process to honour the nation’s top curry houses is led by the local patrons of curry houses on the streets of Britain, annually invited to nominate their favourite Asian restaurants and takeaways.
The process of public nominations creates an authentic list of the nation’s favourite Asian eateries, based on the opinions of local residents.
Andrew Kenny, UK Managing Director, Just Eat added: “It’s a great honour to once again be sponsoring the British Curry Awards.
"After an incredibly challenging 18 months, there’s never been a better time to recognise the resilient and hard-working individuals within the restaurant and takeaway sector.
"Despite the many obstacles faced, from shortages in the supply chain to difficulty in recruiting skilled workers, restaurants have risen to the occasion and delivered customers a taste of normality when they needed it the most.
"We want to ensure that takeaway restaurants – especially in this sector which contributes so much to British culture – don’t just survive, but thrive, in today’s challenging economic climate.”


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P&O tells investors to back Carnival
CRUISE operator P&O Princess will this week recommend that shareholders accept a £3.5 billion tie-up with its arch US rival, Carnival.
The group, which runs the Swan Hellenic, Ocean Village and P&O Cruises brands, succumbed to Carnival's bid three months ago after a yearlong battle. This week it will announce it is writing to shareholders urging them to support the deal.
P&O chairman Lord Sterling stands to collect a year's pay of £412,000 if the deal goes ahead and has shares worth more than £5 million.
Shareholders will be told they will receive one Carnival share for every
3.3289 P&O shares that they own.
The new company created by the takeover will be listed in London and New York and will be the world's biggest cruise company, with 65 liners carrying more than three million passengers a year.
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With Season Three of The Walking Dead
said to still be a ways off, Telltale Games took the opportunity to instead announce a new mini-series coming this fall that will feature the iconic character Michonne. Fully titled The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Games Mini-Series
, the three-episode series will take place during Michonne's untold travels between issues #126 and #139 of the comic series. It will explore "what took Michonne away from Rick, Ezekiel, and the rest of her trusted group… and what brought her back." The Walking Dead: Michonne
will release on Xbox One and Xbox 360 this fall. You'll need to at least have the first episode of The Walking Dead: Season Two
in order to play it, and there'll be more information about that closer to its release date.


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A couple are set to realise their dream by opening their own wedding accessory business in the unorthodox surroundings of a town market.
Lace & Garter Ltd will be opening to the public at 11am on Saturday, October 7, becoming the newest business trading in the unlikely setting of Camborne's Trevithick Market, located behind Argos just off Trelowarren Street.
The market opened in 2014 and since then scores of characters have come and gone, with many flying the nest and building on their success in the market by moving to take up a place on the high street.
The market has units providing space for everything from haircuts to auctions, furniture to sexy underwear and is also the home of a café keeping shoppers fed and watered.
Callum Pollard and Bethan Pugh, both 26, the couple behind Lace & Garter Ltd, said that the low rent in the market allows them to sell their goods cheaper than customers might expect.
Bethan said: “It all started when I did my friend’s wedding and there were so many bits I couldn’t find around here. In the end I had to go to six different shops and even to Plymouth for some things.
“We started putting the shop together in August and have already had quite a few people coming in for a look.
“We want to keep the cost down with our prices so we needed somewhere cheap so we can charge less and Trevithick Market is perfect for us.
“We’ve had lots of good feedback before. Many people are saying they’ve never seen anything like it around the area and we’re hoping that if all the businesses work together we can all get the benefits of increased footfall in the market.”
Bethan and Callum also stock some wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and mother-of-the-bride dresses, other wedding accessories such as fascinators and also hen-do related products.
Another of the market’s characters is Steve Goldman, who has just started a cash for gold business.
He recently moved his family to Cornwall from London where he ran a similar enterprise.
“We only opened two weeks ago but it is going very well so far,” he said. “I pay London prices for gold here and want to try and help people out as much as I can as I know Cornwall and Camborne in particular is quite deprived.
“It’s like a little family here and if we all work as a team and the market is busy then it’s better for all of us.”
Overseeing all that goes on at Trevithick Market is the building’s owner, Danny Chambers.
He said: “Trevithick Market opened in 2014 and is ticking it over nicely but it’d be good to get a few more people through the doors.
“There are 20 units which are all occupied, a café and an auction. There are always people drifting through.
“The rent is low to encourage start-ups and there’s been people who came here, did well and then taken their businesses to the high street.”
The regular auctions always prove to be a hit and take place on Tuesday nights as well as online. To find details search Carn Brea Auctions on Facebook.
The next specialist auction at Trevithick Market will take place on Tuesday, October 3, at 4pm with toys and other collectibles going under the hammer.


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The Houston area was largely spared from the wrath of Hurricane Laura overnight when the storm moved more east than most projected tracks.
H-E-B was among the stores and businesses that decided to close Wednesday at 6 p.m., earlier than usual and ahead of the predicted landfall.
As of Thursday morning, Houston area H-E-B locations reopened at normal hours. Earlier in the week, those stores had hours adjusted.
The Texas grocer, though, announced some stores that were in areas more affected by the storm will remain closed until further notice as it assesses each location to make sure it's safe.
Stores in the Golden Triangle area of southeast Texas were identified including those in Orange, Beaumont, Groves, Port Arthur, and Lumberton.
In addition, customers shopping at H-E-B stores in Baytown and Mont Belvieu are being told to limit water multipacks and baby water multipacks at four each.


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According to a report dedicated to spending on social media for influencer marketing, TikTok is expected to overtake Facebook by the end of the year. For its part, Instagram remains the leader, far ahead of the social network owned by ByteDance, which should overtake YouTube by 2024.
TikTok attracts more and more brands, unlike Facebook or YouTube
Since its creation in 2016, TikTok has continued to grow. In just a few years, it has become the most popular social network with young people, who use it twice as much as its competitors Instagram and Facebook. In addition, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, parent company of these two social networks, has made no secret of his desire to copy TikTok for the next features he wants to add to his platforms. Nevertheless, following heavy criticism, Instagram suspended its updates to resemble the Chinese social network.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri relocates to London
In a report published by several analysts ofInsider Intelligenceformerly eMarketer, TikTok reportedly saw its advertisers spend $774.8 million on influencer marketing in 2022, three times less than Instagram, peaking at $2.23 billion. If this figure seems gigantic and complex to catch up, TikTok has however managed to overtake Facebook and its 739 million dollars.
Instagram wants to maintain its lead over TikTok
According to analysts, TikTok is expected to overtake the number 2 platform in the ranking, namely YouTube and its $948 million, by 2024. But the report clarifies that for influencer marketers, TikTok has already overtaken YouTube in terms of pure tool of influence.
According to Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence“ TikTok is seeing a surge in popularity for influencer marketing, but it still falls far short of Instagram in terms of spend or marketer adoption. This is partly due to the higher prices Instagram creators charge for content, but also to its wide range of content formats, most of which are now purchasable. “.
However, Jasmine Enberg points out that even if Instagram’s lead is considerable, the social network does not rule out meteoric growth in influencer marketing spending on the TikTok side. That’s why Instagram is trying to become more like the ByteDance social network: to attract more and more small creators, which is the hallmark of TikTok.
” This is essential for Instagram to maintain its lead in the influencer marketing space, especially since many creators on TikTok now boast a follower count that rivals or exceeds that of Instagram and Youtube “, she concludes.


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Over half of motorists with older cars are holding on to them for longer because of the cost-of-living crisis.
A new study from Motorpoint, a used car dealership, has revealed that for 57% of those with cars over 10 years old, worries over the current financial situation mean they will keep their car for longer.
However, Motorpoint have pointed out that running an older car has in some cases caused some motorists financial anguish, as the research also highlighted some repair bills have run into the thousands (10%).
Nearly one in 10 admit they aren’t even totally sure how much their ageing car has set them back.
More than a fifth (21%) think they’ve spent more on repairs in any given year than they think their entire car is actually worth.
The research also showed that nearly two thirds (64%) said unexpected car repair bills caused them stress, while 44% had experienced two or more surprise bills over the last 12 months.
More than four in 10 (43%) admit they suspect it may be more economical to buy and run a newer car, than keep maintaining their older one.
CEO of Motorpoint, Mark Carpenter, said: “It’s important when budgeting for a new car to consider maintenance costs, which will be required throughout its life.
“In the current climate, many motorists will look to weigh up the pros of hanging on to an older car, which they may own outright, with financing a newer one that may meet their needs for additional space, lower emissions, improved economy, and safety equipment.
“For those with a vehicle that has become unpredictable, or changing needs such as a growing family, it is important to understand the options available such as a fixed monthly payment and a vehicle with warranty protection to manage repair bills, and to be sure this is affordable.”
More than one in three (36%) siad a lack of awareness of car finance options has seen them hang onto an old car.
Almost half of motorists polled (46%) plan to replace their car within the next three years, and 25% say they will use finance to purchase it. However, 26% are not sure whether they will pay cash or use finance to spread the cost.


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Corporate restructuring and the launch of new technologies has put a strain on Smart Technologies’ (TSX:SMA) pocketbook, the Calgary-based smartboard maker announced in its quarterly results on Thursday.
Smart’s revenues decreased by 25 per cent in its third quarter of fiscal 2013, down to $138.9 million from $185.1 million in the same period the year previous.
The company recorded a net loss of $50.9 million, a significant drop from a net income of $10.7 million last year.
“During the third quarter, we started to refocus the company by restructuring Smart to make it more customer centric, improve speed to market for new technologies and reduce costs in anticipation of ongoing challenges in our core markets,” stated president and CEO Neil Gaydon in a company release.
This quarter included a $34.2 million goodwill impairment charge, a $2 million foreign exchange loss and $15.1 million in costs related to corporate restructuring announced in December. That included the company laying off 25 per cent of its workforce for cost savings of about $40 million. It’s unclear how many of those positions were at its Kanata office.
The strategy will be fully implemented by March 31, according to the company.
Revenue declined by 18 per cent in North America; 26 per cent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and 56 per cent in the rest of the world.
Smart’s gross margin remained relatively steady at 42 per cent, compared to 43 per cent for the same period last year. The gross margin is measured by taking the company’s total sales revenue minus the cost of goods sold, divided by the total sales revenue. The slight shift was due to factors including an increase in its warranty provision for its projectors, the company stated.
Cash operating expenses decreased by 10 per cent, from $54.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, to $49.4 at the end of the quarter ended Dec. 31 2012. Smart has cash and cash equivalents of $145.9 million, with $289 million of debt outstanding.
The company has recently announced new products including a collaborative learning centre and a web-based version of its Notebook learning software.
“With a more efficient and focused organization that is in alignment with our target markets in education and enterprise, we now have a structure that will support the development of our strategy and provide the right cost base,” Mr. Gaydon stated.
Last year, Smart’s CEO and executive chair – both co-founders of the company – resigned from their positions.
In 2011, Smart laid off two-thirds of its Kanata workforce of 300 people as all digital whiteboard assembly shifted to contract manufacturers.


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August Utah Home Sales Down, Prices Creep Up
by Joel Carson
Utah Real Estate
SLBR 2012 ‘Salesperson of the Year’
Salt Lake County home sales dipped slightly in August compared to July. In August 1,347 homes sold; 1,502 homes sold in July. Last month’s performance in this county lagged behind 2012 sales for the same period in 2012 when 1,380 homes sold, according to statistics from the Wasatch Front Multiple Listing Service (WFR MLS).
Statewide home sales through August were also lower than in July. In August 1,347 homes were reported sold; 1,502 sold in July. Total sales are also down compared to August 2012 (1,380).
The slow month follows a long period of steadily increasing sales, so I wouldn’t be too concerned. It’s healthy sometimes to have a brief period of relief; when sales grow too quickly, the balance between supply and demand can create an entirely new set of housing market issues.
Salt Lake County’s Home Sales Volume, Price Per Square Foot Increases
In Salt Lake County the August home sales volume was reported at $370,342,138 compared to July’s home sales volume of $398,389,207. The August 2012 sales volume was $333,799,566. Although fewer homes sold in August 2013 compared to 2012, the total dollar volume was up significantly as was the price per square foot.
In August 2012 the median price per square foot for a home in Salt Lake County was $93.19. For the same period in 2013, the price increased to $107.29 (up 15.13 percent).
The statewide sales volume in August was down compared to July; but significantly higher than August 2012.
Total Utah Home Sales Volume:
August 2012 = $745,090,953
July 2013 = $897,384,291
August 2013 = $876,409,197
Similar to Salt Lake County’s median price per square foot increase, buyers throughout Utah were paying more for their homes per square foot in August compared to August 2012.
Utah Median Home Price per Square Foot:
August 2012 = $84.65
July 2013 = $97.10
August 2013 = $96.34
Homes Selling Faster in Salt Lake County, Statewide
The median amount of time Utah homes remained on the market through August 2012 was 46 days. In August 2013 that amount of time dropped significantly to 31 days. This is likely due to decreased inventory.
In Salt Lake County, the median number of days homes remained on the market through August 2012 was 34 days; this year homes remained on the market a median 23 days.
How are We Doing Compared to Last Year?
A year-to-date (as of Sept. 11) comparison compiled by the WF-MLS for Utah shows a 13 percent increase in the number of Utah homes sold so far in 2013 (24,807) compared to the same period in 2012 (21,954).
The median year-to-date sold price increased 13.95 percent from $179,900 to $205,000 so far this year.
Inventory is holding steady. This year 41,784 new listings have hit the market; that’s an increase of 12.95 percent over year-to-date 2012 new listings (36,994).
In Salt Lake County homes are selling 47.83 percent faster than they did in 2012. Homes remained on the market a median 69 days by this point in 2012; this year homes remained on the market a median 36 days.
So far this year the median sold price is up 19.26 percent from the year-to-date price in 2012. The median sold price by this time last year was $176,000 compared to $209,900 this year.
Inventory isn’t quite as hearty in Salt Lake County as it is statewide; the number of new listings dropped 2.98 percent from 4,698 last year to 4,558 so far this year.
Get Them While They’re Hot
If you’re ready to buy a Utah home or a house in Salt Lake County, I urge you to hurry before prices and interest rates creep higher. You can actually shop 24/7 online at www.allutahhomes.com. Call me, Joel Carson, if you need personal assistance or are ready for a private showing, 801-673-3333.


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One thing that everyone except the relevant politicians agrees on is the misguided nature of America’s agricultural subsidies. Either food products should be unsubsidized or else healthy foods should get special subsidies, but simply plowing money into subsidized corn production is a bad idea. But then there are the relevant politicians:
MARTIN: But of course you know the Agriculture Department has long been criticized by some activists for emphasizing the interests of farmers and growers over the interests of consumers, particularly by subsidizing certain foodstuffs which aren’t necessarily the most healthy and disadvantaging locally grown food, organic food and things of that sort.
So I just wanted to ask you about that. Do you think that that’s true, first of all, and do you plan to address that balance?
Sec. VILSACK: I really don’t think it’s true. I think that the reality in America is that we need both, because there’s a demand and need for both. I would say consumers do benefit from the way in which we structured our farm programs, at least as of today, because of the fact that our food is less expensive than it is any place else in the world. Folks in America have a great deal more discretion of what to do with their paycheck.
To say that Americans benefit from farm subsidies because they make food cheaper might make sense if not for the fact that Americans also have to pay for the subsidies. Besides which, we have a separate program—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka the artist formerly known as food stamps)—to subsidize food purchase among people in need.
More to the point, however, this is non-responsive to the point Martin was raising which was about what kinds of things are we subsidizing. Recall the relative shift in food prices over the past thirty years:
If farm subsidies were making fresh fruit and vegetables cheaper, that would be a mild economic distortion designed to produce good public health. The improved public health outcomes might well compensate in purely GDP terms. And even if they didn’t, promoting longer healthier lives is a good idea. But fresh fruit and vegetables aren’t getting subsidized. Instead, via corn we’re subsidizing soda (high fructose corn syrup) and meat (corn-based feed) and nudging people toward unhealthy lifestyles.


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BELLEVUE, Wash.--()--inome CEO Naveen Jain will inspire entrepreneurs to foster innovation and embrace disruptive technology to solve extreme global challenges at The Economist’s Technology Frontiers 2013 conference on March 5-6 in London. Jain will share how the rapid pace of change in technology and innovation is transforming global challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities.
“As the pace of innovation and technology expands around the globe, a new generation of disruptive entrepreneurism is emerging. This convergence is setting a new tone as opportunities break through virtually every industry”
“As the pace of innovation and technology expands around the globe, a new generation of disruptive entrepreneurism is emerging. This convergence is setting a new tone as opportunities break through virtually every industry,” said Naveen Jain, CEO, inome. “The democratization of innovation is going to make a positive impact in every society, business and culture. Collectively, we must share this knowledge and empower others with the opportunity to solve our planet’s most pressing issues during our lifetime.”
Building a culture of innovation for the 21st Century requires new approaches to old problems. Jain will redefine the challenges that face our world by overcoming myopic thinking and sharing his vision for innovative entrepreneurism at The Economist’s second annual Technology Frontiers conference.
Jain is on a lifelong mission to empower innovative entrepreneurism at every level of society. During a special presentation on “The Future of Business” beginning at 9:40 a.m. on March 5, Jain will highlight the crucial role of entrepreneurs and their ability to foster technological breakthroughs in education, poverty, health, clean water and many other areas of tremendous need. More than 250 senior business leaders will join Jain at Technology Frontiers 2013 to discuss how advancements in technology will affect every facet of their respective businesses and industries.
Jain is the founder of World Innovation Institute, Moon Express and inome, whose mission is to analyze the world’s information and make it person-centric. As a technology pioneer and visionary, he continues to fulfill his mission to bring innovation and entrepreneurism to all industries. Jain is leading innovative change across many sectors, including education, healthcare and space exploration. His philanthropic work is inspiring countless others, including new entrepreneurs, and transforming radical breakthroughs in many of the world’s most challenging issues.
Jain has received many honors for his entrepreneurial successes and leadership skills, including a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Red Herring Magazine for his significant contributions to technology and fostering global entrepreneurism, as well as a “Most Admired Serial Entrepreneur” by Silicon India and “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young.
Technology Frontiers 2013 is the second annual event from The Economist focused on inspiring thinkers with big ideas that transform business. This year’s event will inspire attendees to take a fresh perspective on how technology will transform our work, our lives and our world. For more information on the program, speakers or to register for the event, please go to: http://www.economistconferences.co.uk.
inome is evolving the Web to put people, instead of data, at the center of the online universe. Its revolutionary technologies connect billions of online and offline records to create unique profiles—or information genomes—for individuals. Applications and services built on information genomes help people connect with each other, control their publicly available information, and make informed decisions. inome is the result of almost a decade of people-centric innovation around organizing, integrating and analyzing personal information.


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With Duterte directive, anyone can import rice
Anyone may now import rice at any quantity.
President Duterte has issued the directive to fully liberalize rice importation to rein in inflation after he was informed that rising prices of the staple caused inflation to surge to a fresh nine-year high.
“He wants to flood the market with rice that even if the price of oil should further go up, the people will have access to affordable rice,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday.
Roque said an executive order was not needed to liberalize rice importation.
“With the President’s directive, the National Food Authority (NFA) no longer has any say on how much rice should be imported,” he said. “Anyone who can afford it and will pay tariffs will be allowed to import rice.”
Roque said the tariffs would be used to help local farmers.
‘Animated’ Cabinet meet
The “hot” issue of inflation, he said, was the subject of an “animated” discussion in the Cabinet meeting on Monday night.
The President, according to Roque, eventually approved the “unimpeded importation of rice” to reduce inflation.
His decision came after Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III made a presentation to the Cabinet showing that high rice prices were primarily responsible for the high inflation in September.
Using graphs, Dominguez showed that aside from tobacco, oil and nonfood items, rice was the most important commodity, whose price increase led to the spike in inflation.
Last month’s inflation rose to 6.7 percent, angering the public more as they continue to grapple with a series of fuel price increases, which rose for the ninth time in as many weeks on Tuesday.
Roque said the Palace expected big companies such as San Miguel Corp. would now be able to import rice. The company, he noted, was mentioned at the Cabinet meeting.
San Miguel has made known its intention to import rice to help beef up current stocks in the country after the NFA reserve supply was almost depleted. The low NFA buffer has led to skyrocketing rice prices.
“This increased supply of rice will result in overall lowering of the price of rice,” Roque said.
He also said it was now a free market for rice.
No one will be required to get an accreditation to import although getting an import permit will still be a requirement.
“But no one will have to approve the importation anymore. They just need to comply with the documentary requirements,” Roque said.
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As cyber-criminals up their game in trolling for personal information, so too are laws aimed at fighting them.
New Jersey is on the verge of joining six other states—California, Alaska, Iowa, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia—that recently enacted laws to combat the growing online menace of data breaches.
Legislation that expands the types of personal information that would trigger notification to customers that their online account has been breached so they can make quick changes passed the state Assembly 76-0 on Monday and is headed to Gov. Murphy’s desk. The Senate previously voted it through.
Proponents say the measure is needed in light of recent data breaches at major corporations—including last month’s incident at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of Marriott International, where up to 500 million guests’ personal information was allegedly compromised by an unauthorized third party.
The Senate approved the identical bill, S-52, on June 25, 2018, by a 37-0 vote, shortly after the Senate Commerce Committee approved it by a 5-0 vote.
In the previous legislative session, the same bill was passed 33-0 by the Senate, but never acted on by then-Gov. Chris Christie.
“Protecting the security of online accounts is important for consumers, as a breach of security of these accounts can lead to the compromise of personal information and expose consumers to identity theft,” said the Assembly’s prime sponsor Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) after Monday’s unanimous vote. “If an individual’s personal information has become unwillingly available to someone else, they have the right to know as quickly as possible.”
Current law requires all businesses and public entities that compile digital data to notify consumers of breaches involving personal information, such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, or credit and debit card information, in combination with any required security code, access code or password.
A-3245/S-52 would amend the law to include among the information triggering a notification requirement: usernames, email addresses, and any passwords or security questions and answers that would permit access to an online account.
The legislation also seeks to prohibit any business or public entity that furnishes an email account from providing notice of a security breach to the email account being affected. Instead it would have to notify the user through another method or “provide a clear and conspicuous notice delivered to the consumer online while he or she is connected to the online account” from an IP address or location the business knows the consumer connects from regularly.
“With online databases and private account information being hacked so frequently now, consumers are more vulnerable to exposure and harm,” said Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), S-52’s primary sponsor. “This bill will bolster consumers’ rights to privacy and protection and instill a greater sense of security.”
The data breach law is a supplement to the Consumer Fraud Act, and those penalties apply for willful, knowing and reckless violation of the notification requirements: $10,000 for the first offense and $20,000 for the second and any subsequent offense; and treble damages in a civil suit.
The bill requires breach alerts to be provided to state residents through written notice, electronic notice, or if the business or entity demonstrates that the cost of providing notice would exceed $250,000, or that the number of affected consumers exceeds 500,000.
If the business or public entity does not have sufficient contact information, a substitute notice would include an email notice, a posting of the notice on the business or entity’s website and notification to major statewide media.
Starwood announced last month that an unauthorized party had access to the Starwood guest reservation database for four years. The database contained names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport numbers, date of birth, reservation dates, and credit and debit card information of Starwood guests.
Other large companies like Yahoo!, Ebay, Equifax and Target have also encountered data breaches in the past several years.
“Data breaches are an unfortunate side effect of the technological age in which we live,” said Assembly co-sponsor Carol Murphy (D-Burlington). “The reality is, many people give out their personal information when shopping or doing business online without a second thought. When those breaches inevitably occur, we have to make sure those potentially impacted have the chance to take steps to secure their information.”


text: A quick tour of a room full of computer-guided fabrication tools, like laser cutters and mills for carving materials, gives one a glimpse into the future of technology and possibilities that could be created if innovators are empowered. A team of young tech innovators comprised of engineers, product developers, and designers in separate rooms are working to make sure that they hit the target of producing urgently needed face shields. In the room next to the entrance of the facility, individuals seated on their computers are busy designing face shields, while in the following room, others are cutting materials that will be used to make face shields using laser machines. In the third room, workers are assembling the face shields, and packaging them before they could be delivered to hospitals. This is FabLab, an innovation space that was previously busy training individuals to produce hardware solutions to solve some of the community challenges. Barely a month ago, has a team of Rwandan technology innovators at FabLab Rwanda prototyped what was the first face shield to be made locally. Today, that prototype has attracted the attention of hospitals and individuals who think they can use them to protect medical workers in different hospital establishments. Simply put, it is a micro factory that is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) whose demand has recently risen, creating shortage in some markets. “What we are doing is helping the country to fight this (COVID-19) pandemic,” Danny Bizimana, one of the mechanical engineers at this facility and the General Manager of FabLab says. Members working with FabLab have previously produced prosthetics using 3D printing technology, made aquarium systems that monitor fish life cycle, set up water treatment technology, and printed various wooden materials. With the pandemic, early last month they decided to shift focus to go into the manufacturing operations of face shields, which protect frontline responders to COVID-19. “We tried our hands on ventilators but realised it was costing a lot of time, so we decided to focus on this project of making face shields,” Bizimana notes. Face shields are currently needed by not just healthcare workers who work on the frontline but they are also becoming part of the attires that industries like aviation will need post lockdowns. Some airlines are already planning to equip their cabin crew members with face shields, gowns and goggles as part of their attire on commercial passenger flights when they resume operations. And now big companies including Apple, Ford, Nike and Amazon are making face shields too. FabLab has joined global efforts to produce these PPE and Bizimana says they are able to produce at least 500 face shields per day or even go beyond depending on the demand. The full-face shield being produced by FabLab perfectly curves around the face. And it goes lower enough to ensure that droplets won’t enter into the mask. This, coupled with the face mask, can provide employee protection as well as keep patients safe. When Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) facilitated Rwanda to establish the first fab lab – a digital fabrication laboratory – the idea was to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators, but nobody knew that a few years later it would become a hub for commercial products. Four years later, Bizimana says there is a lot of optimism that FabLab could move to develop solutions that are transformative in nature, and that’s just the spirit that members have to realize that vision.


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For reasons that could probably be most simply explained “because, you know, 2020”, KFC has launched an in-game location featuring a new, um, “secret” ingredient to go with those eleven herbs and spices.
It’s got a replica service counter, menus, and booths, and according to Gamespot, players who find and interact with Colonel Sanders blag a free code for a KFC bucket deal of deep-fried Becky. I mean, chicken. Wait, that isn’t better, but I guess the inevitable coronary cancels it out (maybe?).
The promo is only available to players in the Philippines, though, so it’s okay. Until it’s available everywhere else, anyway.
Sign up for the NAG Weekend Edition, and get a super-special curated list of what's cool and trendy this week, delivered to your inbox every Friday. Plus, each month, one subscriber can win a prize sponsored by Apex Interactive!


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As all of us knows, the National Lockdown commenced on the 26th of March 2020 at midnight and only essential workers are permitted to work during the lockdown.
The service the south african post office delivers to all members who receive a social grant (SASSA) is one of the essential services that was addressed during the State of the Nation with regards to the 21day lockdown.
Ivumile Nongogo, the acting CEO of the south african post office stated that the decision to provide grants to vulnerable people was excepted as there are many people in South Africa that depend on grants.
The south african post office has a total of 882 branches that have been designated to provide these services during this period. However, the South African Post Office’s services will be limited. Parcel deliveries, mail services and other support operations will be suspended in conformance with the 21day lockdown.
The South African Post Office’s customer services centres will not be available either by telephone or email, and customers are urged to not expect any outstanding deliveries to take place during this time.
Control measures for customers queuing include queue marshalling services during peak hours at busy branches. The south african post office has additionally stated hygiene provisions will be stepped up with sanitisers, gloves, and masks to be provided to retail employees.
As the union for the south african post office, SAPWU requests that all our members take this matter seriously and make use of the hygiene provisions by using the sanitisers, gloves and masks that are provided.
SAPWU wants all our members to be safe during this time as we all have families to return to. Prevention is better than cure.
Follow the guidelines on safe hygiene practice as often as you can. Make use of the hygiene provisions, but also remember to wash your hand regularly.
- Using warm or lukewarm running water, wet your hands and apply soap—
- Rub your hands together to make a lather
- Keep rubbing your hands together, taking special precaution to wash your thumbs and the back of your hands.
- Interlock fingers and wash well in between
- Rinse your hands well.
- Dry your hands, using a clean paper towel or allowing your hands to air dry.
SAPWU – The Union for the South African Post Office


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U.S. luxury department store chain Bloomingdale's is launching an online subscription rental service called My List in September, Women's Wear Daily reported Aug. 8, citing Denise Magid, executive vice president and general merchandise manager at Bloomingdale's.
The Macy's Inc. subsidiary will offer ready-to-wear women's apparel from over 60 brands, as well as more than 100 exclusive pieces, for a monthly subscription fee of $149, the report said. Customers can rent up to 10 pieces from an assortment of apparel categories, WWD added.
According to the report, the shift in consumer preferences brought about by urbanization led to the department store's decision to offer the subscription-based clothing rental service.
The report said Macy's could also start a similar service if Bloomingdale's My List service proves to be successful.


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February 8, 2009 12:31:29 am
The Crime Branch claims to have busted a racket in which the accused duped several banks of crores by swiping fake and stolen credit cards and getting assured cash back against non-existing purchases,running into thousands.
After eight arrests last month,two more Mohit Jain,a dealer of cosmetics,and Amit Batra,a jeweller were arrested this week. Between themselves,Jain and Batra defrauded banks up to Rs 12 crore,sources in the Crime Branch said. The total fraud made by the racket could be as big as Rs 20 crore,the sources said.
The others arrested are Jaspal Singh,Amit Shukla and Pankaj Aggarwal (said to be the masterminds),Suresh Goel,Anil Singhal,Rajesh Kalra,Gurpreet Singh and Rajesh. All 10 are into different businesses,the police said.
According to a source,the businessmen showed purchases through Electronic Data Capturing (EDC) machines used to swipe credit cards with fake and stolen cards. They reportedly took the cash percentage (5 per cent for customers,4 per cent for shops/merchants) from different banks.
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The police have recovered 206 fake and stolen credit cards of different banks from their possession. The accused got EDC machines issued in the name of seven non-existing companies,the source said.
The source said the con game has been going on since 2007,though the first complaint made by a bank (officers refused to divulge names of the banks) came to the police as late as last November.
Customers usually get cash back up to 5 percent from banks or card providers on shopping through credit cards. Shopowners swipe the cards in EDC machines and send the invoices of purchases to respective banks the business/service owner usually gets 4 per cent of sales amount,while 2.5 per cent goes to the bank.
The accused,police officials said,took both the 5 per cent cash-back for customers and 4.5 per cent meant for the business owner; and since there were no sales,their articles also remained intact. The police found out that the seven firms they had apparently set up to get the EDC machines also did not exist.
Based on a complaint made by a bank,the Crime Branch registered an FIR in November 2008 under Indian Penal Code Sections related to cheating and forgery. Crime Branch officials said they suspect more persons are involved and the fraud is much larger in scope.
HOW CREDIT CARD PROCESSING WORKS
EDC processing: When a customer pays for products or services with a credit card,the card information is recorded-either by manual entry,a card imprinter,point-of-sale (POS) terminal,or virtual terminal-and then verified so that the merchant can receive payment for the transaction
Purchase:The cardholder pays for the purchase and the merchant submits the transaction to the acquirer. The acquirer verifies with the issuer almost instantly that the card number and transaction amount are both valid,and then processes the transaction
Batching:After the transaction is authorised it is then stored in a batch,which the merchant sends to the acquirer later to receive payment (usually at the end of the day)
Clearing and settlement:The acquirer sends transactions in the batch through the card association,which debits the issuers for payment and credits the acquirer. In effect,the issuers pay the acquirer for the transactions
Payment:Once the acquirer has been paid,the merchant receives payment
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The United States Travel Association has partnered with several tourism industry groups to launch a broad-based coalition, Visit U.S., to work alongside the president to grow travel to the United States. International travel to the states has been on the decline, with market share decreasing from 13.6 percent in 2015 to 11.9 percent in 2017, says the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)—one of the coalition’s member groups.
As part of the coalition, AHLA plans to work with all levels of government to, “encourage a welcome message that doesn’t comprise safety and security.” The coalition will share research, meet with the Administration, and launch an earned and paid digital campaign. “As part of our effort, we will also call for the Administration to support Brand USA and to partner with us to support and grow travel to the U.S., reminding the world that we are open for business and we can do that while keeping our security strong and our borders safe,” says AHLA CEO Katherine Lugar.
Visit U.S.’s founding partners include the American Gaming Association; the American Society of Association Executives; the Asian American Hotel Owners Association; the International Association of Exhibitions and Events; the National Restaurants Association; the National Retail Federation; the Society of Independent Show Organizers; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Read more about the coalition’s efforts as reported by the New York Times here.


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After successful trade of Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Galaxy Tab 10.1N with a slight change in position of front camera, Samsung is going to expand its tablet devices with an over-sized Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6. It’s expected to be disclosed at the MWC 2012 by the end of February.
No doubt Samsung is currently leading the mobile market (including Tables). For your kind information, the court has declared to start Samsung’s Christmas Galaxy Tab 10.1 sale in Australian market. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 had become winner a lot of times than all other popular tablets like; Motorola Xoom and iPad 2. It should be an alert to Apple and other competitors in market that, Samsung also wants to compete Apple TV, AirPlay and other important wizards. It shows the popularity of Galaxy Tab. So why should not Samsung planed for a bigger one? According to reliable guys over BGR reported that Samsung is plans for a new and bigger tablet called the Samsung galaxy Tab 11.6.
This Galaxy Tab will have near around a 12-inch display i.e. 11.6-inch with twice as the pixels as 1080p and a smaller bezel too. It will have a Retina display with 2560 x 1600 pixels full HD resolution. The new Galaxy Tab 11.6 will run on Google’s latest most Android v4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and powered by a powerful 2GHz dual-core Exynos processor. It seems to be supported by NFC+ Bluetooth connectivity sharing of data and files. Additionally, the Galaxy Tab 11.6 is going to have wireless docking mode to interface with HDTVs. Well further information regarding this tablet will be disclosed at MWC 2012.
Do you think, 11.6-inches display will be too big for a tablet devices? Would you like to suggest Samsung to stick a functional keyboard on the bottom of the device and call it a notebook? By the way, is it a positive approach from Samsung to compete with its competitors? We need your opinion to get get clear our mind, so let us know what you think about this bigger Galaxy member via comments.


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Rescued Ideas, a Berlin-based company with their product the Basslet, which lets users “feel” the beat of the music, was the winning startup concept at the annual Rethink Music Venture Day Berlin on October 24. The event, hosted at Factory Berlin, drew more than 400 startups, investors, artists, entrepreneurs, and executives in this second edition, making it the largest event focused solely on music entrepreneurship in Europe.
Second place went to French music game company Meludia, and third place went to Valencia, Spain-based Play It Forward, a non-profit focused on providing access to music education. Read the full press release here.
We’ll be back next year Berlin!
Berklee College of Music, Midem, and IE Business School have now announced the full day program for Rethink Music Venture Day 2014 in Berlin, taking place on October 24. It is available here.
The day of global networking with other international music business start-ups, entrepreneurs, brands and investors – as well as the chance to meet guests and speakers from leading international companies and organizations – will run from 10am-6pm at Factory Berlin, the new technology startup campus in Mitte, Berlin, followed by an after party and networking event presented by Music Tech Fest. The event is free to attend with advance registration at http://rethinkmusicberlin2014.eventbrite.com.
Finalists for the Rethink Music Berlin Venture Day 2014 start-up competition have now also been announced. 12 start-up projects from countries including France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, UK and the US, have been selected and will pitch their ventures to our panel of judges made up of experienced music executives and investors, at the event at the Factory in Berlin on October 24. The winner will be awarded a business start-up package worth $10,000.
Offering an extensive variety of original products and services – and seeking an average investment of 800,000 Euros – the start-up ventures will be pitching a range of new ideas, from a wrist band to enhance the musical experience through physical sensation; mobile and web-based applications for building and entertaining fan bases; marketplaces for artist bookings; gaming to discover new music; to educational applications to learn music; training your ear to understand music; and a platform to provide free interactive music education to children across the globe.
Submissions for startup pitches at Rethink Music Venture Day Berlin are now due by Thursday, October 2nd via our Gust site! The day’s full programme will be available in early October, and attendance is FREE with registration via our Eventbrite page.
We are pleased to announce an integral part of the programme for Rethink Music Venture Day in Berlin on October 24th. Paul Hitchman, President, International, of Kobalt Label Services will be our keynote interview to open the day, followed by a number of other discussions about entrepreneurship and music. We’ll then have pitches from 12 startups; one of whom will be named Rethink Music Venture Day 2014 winner!
Remember, submissions for startup pitches are due by Monday, September 29th via our Gust site! The day’s full programme will be available in early October, and attendance is FREE with registration via our Eventbrite page.


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It's a comforting time to be a germ freak. In addition to anti-bacterial hand soaps and shampoos, the microbe-averse can buy bacteria-fighting clothes, toys, towels, sheets, sponges, mops and even pens.
Never mind that trillions of bacteria happily reside on our skins and noses and in our mouths and intestines. Or that some exposure to germs helps develop a healthy immune system.
In 2004, Americans spent more than $540 million on anti-bacterial soaps, hand cleaners and detergents that contain chemicals such as triclosan to kill germs, though a Food and Drug Administration panel found that they are no better than soap and water. People in health-care settings may see benefits, but not in the general population.
The issue isn't just that, for most of us, products impregnated with germ-fighting chemicals are a waste of money. It's not even that they could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, something the Soap and Detergent Association maintains happens in the lab but not in the real world.
The association says people confuse anti-bacterial with antibiotic. If there were a link, the organization says, it likely would have been seen in settings such as hospitals, and it also says the rampant overuse of antibiotics by doctors to treat infection likely plays a far greater role in the rise of super-resistant bugs.
More disturbing is that the germ-fighting chemicals found in anti-bacterials, namely triclosan and triclocarban, are turning up in fish, breast milk and wastewater. Then they are released into the environment through municipal sludge, which is recycled and spread on agricultural fields.
Although this has been going on for the last 50 years, scientists only recently looked into what happens once the chemicals are flushed down the drain. This all concerns researchers such as Rolf Halden, assistant professor at the Center for Water and Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The United States Geological Survey has shown that triclosan, which mimics the thyroid hormone and is commonly added to soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, dog shampoo, cutting boards, clothing, toys and other anti-bacterial products, is present in 60 percent of U.S. waterways investigated.
Halden's studies showed a similar dispersal of triclocarban, triclosan's chemical brother, which is found mostly in deodorant bar soaps.
Both chemicals are known by several other names, and annually more than 1 million pounds of each are used in the U.S. alone.
Though the amounts turning up are minute, a recent study has shown it's enough to disrupt thyroid function in frogs. Equivalent data on humans isn't yet available.
As ingredients in products, the chemicals aren't necessarily harmful to humans, scientists say. But evidence is mounting that "these chemicals are remarkably persistent and possibly bioaccumulating, not only through products [applied to the skin] but environmentally through drinking water and potentially contaminated crops," said Halden, a member of the FDA panel that looked at the benefits and hazards of antiseptic hand soaps.
Now he and other scientists are asking: Do the potential benefits of anti-microbial products outweigh their possible environmental human health risks?
"Plain old soap and water also removes and kills micro-organisms and has done so for thousands of years," Halden said.
Also, anti-bacterial soaps don't prevent colds or flu, which are caused by viruses, not bacteria. And most experts say that unless you're in a hospital environment, using products with triclosan--a biocide that can destroy biological structures at random--is like using a jackhammer to kill an ant.
The American Medical Association has opposed routine use of anti-bacterial soaps since 2002. This year, the Canadian Pediatric Society asked parents to stop buying anti-bacterial products and instead use soap and water to wash toys, hands and household items. Allison Janse, co-author of the indispensable manual "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" (Health Communications, $11.95 paper), points out that when you buy an anti-bacterial cutting board and put raw chicken on it, you've just contaminated it. Buying these products, she said, "may give some people a false sense of security."
There is a place for anti-bacterial products: a hospital. Think twice about using them in your home for everyday use, especially when soap and water are just as effective. And much cheaper.
E-mail Julie at firstname.lastname@example.org and visit her blog at chicagotribune.com/julie. Send health news to email@example.com.