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Of course, the freshest food is that which has to travel less, so Donaghy’s pledge also fulfils ICC’s commitment to supporting the local community in particular and NSW in general. CEO Donaghy was also determined to reach a target of at least 80 per cent local grapes for the ICC’s wine offering but has surpassed this and the facility’s wine list is 100 per cent NSW vintages. In the pursuit of local wines, Donaghy was intrigued by the stories of local vintners and commissioned a four-part documentary detailing their journeys. The footage is being released over the coming months.
The support of local food and beverage producers was the founding philosophy of the convention centre’s Feeding Your Performance (FYP) legacy programme, which was developed even before the convention centre opened in 2016 when nearly 130 farmers were scrutinised as possible purveyors to its kitchens.
FYP has since become the cornerstone of ICC’s strategy to offer nutritionally balanced meals to support the energy levels of delegates.


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You may find more results for this query on our sister sites: 360Dx and Precision Oncology News.
Facing questions over data security in the US and Ireland, the company has changed its name as it looks to shed its China operations.
CEO Margo Georgiadis said that the company has "seen a slowdown in consumer demand across the entire DNA category."
The company will rely more on distribution partners in Europe for its Unyvero product line while continuing highly targeted commercialization efforts in the US.
Roche said the layoffs at its Madison, Wisconsin site will start Dec. 31 and continue through June 30, 2020.
Cooper took a $24.4 million impairment charge in the second quarter on the intangible assets it acquired in 2016 from carrier screening firm Recombine.
The company entered a securities purchase agreement through which it has raised gross proceeds of $650,000 and paid down a portion of the company's debt.
The company acquired GnuBio, which was developing a droplet-based sequencing platform, in 2014 for $39.7 million in cash and $10 million in contingent payments.
The restructuring and job cuts are expected to save the firm more than $70 million annually.
Qiagen's revenues grew 6 percent at constant exchange rates to $349.0 million, besting the average Wall Street estimate of $346.6 million.
The company said that it is extending the maturity of certain obligations under the terms of the acquisition deal until March 2019.
Novavax has begun a phase III trial of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, according to the New York Times.
Vox reports that the Trump Administration may limit student visas for individuals from some countries to two years.
The governor of New York says the state will conduct its own review of any SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, NPR reports.
This week in Science: Neanderthal Y chromosomes replaced by Homo sapiens Y chromosomes, and more.

domain: news


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La Vista, NE – May 11, 2018
54 percent of Encartele’s friends and family customers use an Android device to access their accounts, and now they can do so through CIDNET’s Google Play Store app.
“When customers use the Android app, we can guarantee a fully-functional video visitation experience,” app developer Chris Petree says. “But if they try to access CIDNET through the Chrome browser on their phone, we can’t ensure the same level of quality.”
The CIDNET app boasts many improvements over the traditional phone-browser experience. For one thing, there’s no need to keep track of open tabs or remember account login information. It’s a much more streamlined user experience. In addition, the official CIDNET app has controls and input fields that have been optimized for Android users.
There’s also the added benefit of notifications. Previously, the only notifications available to CIDNET customers were delivered to the user’s email. Now, whenever a new message is received or a video visitation is approved, the customer can get a notification sent straight to their phone.
“Anything customers currently do through our website can now be done through our app. It’s completely compatible,” Petree says.
Plans for an Apple IOS version of this app are also in the works, even though IOS users make up a significantly smaller portion of CIDNET’s customer base as compared to Android users. Encartele predicts that the IOS app will be ready for release at the end of next quarter.
More about CIDNET
Currently, the CIDNET platform supports only the Chrome Browser on modern laptop and desktop PCs. The CIDNET app requires Android 4.1 or higher, and works best using Wi-Fi.
More about Encartele Inc
Encartele is an inmate telephone company and telecommunications equipment supplier based in La Vista, Nebraska. Their mission is to develop and deliver innovative technical solutions to correctional agencies. Encartele’s many years of experience in this industry provides them with a unique perspective into the needs of correctional facilities – especially when it comes to the untapped efficiencies therein.


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Available to preorder through a new project on crowd funding site Indiegogo, Breathometer, Inc. today announced what it claims is the “World’s First Smartphone Breathalyzer”. While we have seen other solutions in the past, the Breathometer is a smaller, thumb drive sized device that connects to your iPhone’s 3.5mm audio jack and provides reliable, real-time blood alcohol readings.
The company said it already has a working prototype but is counting on raising its $25,000 funding goal in order to kick the Breathometer into full production. It also plans to implement additional features in a companion app before the Breathometer’s launch, such as a “a push of a button cab service.”
Breathometer is the next generation breathalyzer that provides an accurate BAC measurement that enables smarter decisions… By using Breathometer, you now have the ability to help prevent accidents. We’re also building some other amazing features like a push of a button cab service.
Early bird pledgers will be able to get a Breathometer when it ships (by January 2014) for just $20, while bids ranging from $50 to $500 will get you a unit as early as July of this year in addition to some bonus gifts.
CEO and founder of Breathometer had this to say about the announcement:
“Breathometer wasn’t created just to address the risks associated with drinking and driving,” said Charles Michael Yim, Founder & CEO of Breathometer. “but to help people, their friends and family, all to make smart and safer choices when consuming alcohol. Real time BAC measurement is the first step.”
The company also noted that the patent pending device will be compatible with Android devices and FDA approved when it launches.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Facebook’s female empowerment program She Means Business is stepping into Pakistan with a collaboration with Herself, a similar initiative of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
Herself was launched by PITB in June 2016, after realizing the low representation of women in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. The initiative aims to provide business training and support to expand the participation of women in the country’s workforce. She Means Business by Facebook is a global initiative that was launched in March, 2016 to empower and inspire women to become financially independent. It has been established in 14 countries; trained 7000+ women, forged 14 training partnerships and reached 32.5 million through its online efforts.
The aim of the partnership is to arm women with the support and resources needed for them to start their own business and participate more fully in the economy
Ritesh Mehta, Head of Economic Growth Initiatives, India and South Asia, at Facebook says, “Through She Means Business and the support of our partners, like PITB’s Herself, we want to shine a light on the women who start or run small businesses in Pakistan and empower them to do more – so that their families, their communities and ultimately, the Pakistan’s economy will benefit.”
Women entrepreneurs will be given the knowledge, skills and technology required to successfully grow their presence on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, through a series of workshops and online resources. Herself will also share the success stories of women entrepreneurs from other platforms including Facebook’s She Means Business.
“In Pakistan, women-owned enterprises represent an insubstantial portion of existing SME’s. At PITB’s Plan9, Pakistan’s largest tech incubator, only 14% of start-up companies are co-founded by women. By collaborating with Facebook, we hope to be successful in further engaging women in the workforce and achieving more equal participation in the economy,” says Dr. Umar Saif, Chairman of PITB.


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Kiwifruit leader Zespri has been awarded almost NZ$15 million in damages after a ruling that its SunGold variety was unlawfully taken to China and distributed to other growers. The company sue took out a civil action in 2018 against kiwifruit grower Haoyu Gao, his wife Xia Xue and their company Smiling Face Limited after discovering that two of its protected varieties were being propagated by Gao and his associates in China. The February 20 ruling found that Gao had fraudulently offered to sell Zespri’s varieties and the right to licence them to parties in China. This was in breach of his contractual obligation to notify Zespri of any infringement he was aware of.
In a statement, Dave Courtney, Zespri’s chief grower and alliances officer said,
“This is an important decision for New Zealand’s kiwifruit growers, as well as for other New Zealand horticultural businesses. If they continue to invest in research and development to create value for New Zealand they will have protections against those who seek to undermine that.”
While the damages awarded were almost $15 million against Gao and Smiling Face, and $10m against Xue, the judge ruled that the maximum to be paid was $15m.
In the 2018-2019 campaign, Zespri sold 167.2 million trays of fruit around the world, with China accounting for about NZ$650m of the firm’s $2.94 billion sales last year.


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WELLINGTON (MarketWatch) -- New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-operative Ltd. has appointed financial services advisors to assist it with the launch of its new capital plan, the company said in a statement Thursday.
Fonterra said Craigs Investment Partners will be the Registered Volume Provider for the Fonterra Shareholders' Market.
"The Registered Volume Provider will be a market maker in the Fonterra Shareholders' Market, where farmer shareholders will be able to buy and sell among themselves," said Fonterra Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Mason.
"The role will include responsibility for creating a transparent market, and ensuring there are sufficient buy and sell orders aimed at creating market depth so that prices don't fluctuate unduly," Mason added.
Deutsche Bank along with Craigs Investment Partners, UBS, and Goldman Sachs will be joint lead managers for the new plan, Fonterra added.
Currently only farmers who own farms that produce milk for Fonterra can own shares, and the number of shares they own is relative to the amount of milk their farms produce.
The new plan allows for the creation of a farmer-only share market for its shares, known as Trading Among Farmers. Under the program, farmers will also be able to sell some of their shares into a fund and external investors will buy the rights to dividends from those shares, but not the shares themselves. A secondary market to trade those rights will be created.


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According to a report in The Telegraph, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yanked a possible knighthood from Steve Jobs. Apparently Mr. Brown was upset that Jobs turned down his approach to speak at a Labour Party convention, and promptly threw his toys out of the pram.
A former senior Labour MP said..
Mr Jobs was put forward for the honour by the MP for services to technology. Apple is credited with revolutionising the industry in recent years with its iPhone and iPad devices, which have unleashed a boom in mobile internet usage. Apple has been the only major global company to create stunning consumer products because it has always taken design as the key component of everything it has produced. No other CEO has consistently shown such a commitment.
If Jobs were to be knighted, he would join an exclusive club that includes Steven Spielberg, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Ronald Reagan, and Benito Mussolini.
An Italian Fascist who played a considerable part in WW2 has a knighthood, but the man who gave us the iPhone doesn’t. Makes sense I suppose!


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American BioMed in deal with Diagnostic Ultrasound:
This article was originally published in Clinica
American BioMed has linked up with Diagnostic Ultrasound to produce and market an antimicrobial Foley balloon catheter. American BioMed will provide its silicon manufacturing technology, while Diagnostic will contribute funding and Implemed's Oligon technology. The worldwide market for Foley catheters is an estimated $500 million annually.
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Lannett will launch a further seven products in fiscal 2021, after launching four products recently in the first quarter of FY21. The company also plans to pay off its Term Loan ‘A’ in full, by the end of November 2020.
Pfizer has now received a formal European Commission approval for its Nyvepria biosimilar pegfilgrastim. The approval puts the firm in direct competition with several other versions of the Neulasta original.
AstraZeneca's research head admits that the half dose approach was a lucky mistake – but one that could boost the vaccine's effectiveness and supplies. The US regulator may not be persuaded, however.


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Find the best used 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor near you. Every used car for sale comes with a free CARFAX Report. We have 4 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles for sale that are reported accident free, 10 1-Owner cars, and 0 personal use cars.
Sep 13, 2012· Ford has announced that it is adding its corporate 3.7-liter V-6 to the Police Interceptor sedan’s option sheet, where it will slot between the base, naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 and the ...
Sep 17, 2018· Even the 2.0 four-cylinder is quicker to 60 mph than the old Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, even though its horsepower and torque figures are slightly lower (240 hp/270 ft-lbs versus 250 hp/297 ft-lbs).
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Details about 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan POLICE INTERCEPTOR 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan Sedan Black AWD Automatic POLICE INTERCEPTOR ... SHO-PP-001 from unleased tuning which added 75-100 hp making this car a 440hp awd rocket ship, the speed of this car will surprise you. Interested in trades for cars, suvs, trucks or best offer. ...
Get the best deals on Performance Chips for 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices.
The police-exclusive 303-hp “361 Special V8 Police Interceptor” becomes part of a 6-engine, 4-transmission lineup. 1961 Ford Division study finds 58 percent of police vehicles in use in the 50 largest cities in the U.S. are Ford models.
Jan 04, 2019· All-new 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Ford. The Police Interceptor starts life on the same line at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, but ends up at a nearby upfitting facility and undergoes a number of changes. Primary among that are Police-duty springs, shocks, anti-roll bars, and brakes.
Dec 01, 2015· Since 2013, Ford has offered its Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan with a 24o-hp turbocharged EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but it hasn’t and …
The 2013 Taurus offers the advanced 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine as an option. The EcoBoost 2.0-liter delivers 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque while delivering highway fuel economy of at least 31 mpg. Each Taurus engine is mated to a unique six-speed automatic transmission. The 2013 Taurus features a more muscular hood.
The Crown Victoria was the first car of the Police Interceptor lineup. The first units were released in 1992, with a 4.6-liter Modular V8 engine and either a Ford AOD/AOD-E or a Ford 4R70W, which were both 4-speed automatic transmissions.. Although the Crown Victoria did have police versions back in 1979 up to 1991, the car never used the Police Interceptor moniker.
Save $4,976 on a 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor AWD near you. Search over 4,300 listings to find the best local deals. We analyze millions of used cars daily.
184 Used Ford Taurus Police Interceptor cars for sale with prices starting at $5,500. Data-driven analysis of used cars for sale, and specifically the market for Ford Taurus models.
The standard 3.3L hybrid delivers a combined system 318 hp* in the Police Interceptor Utility, while an available 3.0L EcoBoost ® outputs 400 hp under the hood. The F-150 Police Responder ® offers a powerful 3.5L EcoBoost engine that generates 375 hp and a muscular 470 lb.-ft. of torque.
Shop 2013 Ford Utility Police Interceptor vehicles for sale in Woodinville, WA at Cars.com. Research, compare and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 18 2013 Utility Police Interceptor ...
Aug 24, 2016· CBS Detroit reports that more than 88,000 cars and SUVs are affected, including every Ford Police Interceptor sedan built at the Chicago plant between 2013 and 2015. The automaker says the …
2013 Ford Utility Police Interceptor: All new for 2013, the Ford Utility Police Interceptor is a law enforcement variant of the Ford Explorer powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Standard AWD and brake actuated traction control aid in pursuit driving.
Nov 15, 2012· When I got the chance to review a fully-functional 2013 Ford Interceptor, I jumped on it. My Interceptor police tester has the 3.5-liter V6 that is producing 305-horses and comes with a specially designed 6-speed automatic transmission.
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Aug 20, 2013· DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 20, 2013 – Ford today announced police agencies will soon be able to order a Ford Police Interceptor utility vehicle with the 365-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6.
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Investigate the Ford Police Interceptor. Police-tested and street-proven with nearly 7 decades of history, the Interceptor is purpose-built with a philosophy that incorporates safety, durability, performance and being upfit-friendly.
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Mar 29, 2020· The 2013 police interceptor has 304 or 305 base horsepower depending on whether it is the sedan or sport-utility model, respectively. This number alone is 20 percent greater than previous models, which used a 4.6L 250-hp V8 engine.
Federal Signal Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV 2016-2019 Headlight Flasher Federal Signal Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV 2016-2019 Headlight Flasher $103.87 Federal Signal offers a family of high-side and ground-side switched flashers suitable for a variety of applications.
Nov 12, 2019· First Uploaded: November 12, 2019 Last Updated: November 12, 2019 Last Downloaded: 8 hours ago


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YouTube reaches one billion unique monthly visitors
Despite our recent disdain for Google, there's no denying the Mountain View, Calif.-based company is a juggernaut when it comes to web traffic. It totally dominates search and its YouTube subsidiary, which has just announced a brand new milestone, is equally unstoppable in the online video market.
The YouTube team claims the service "now has more than a billion unique users every single month", which is a phenomenal figure. The service, which was started back in 2005, has been growing steadily since inception and was purchased by Google in 2006, perhaps saving the video company from being litigated out of existence.
While that number of regular visitors is huge, the breakdown provided with the announcement is even more staggering. Consider what the numbers really mean -- one out of every two people on the Internet visits YouTube. The company further puts it in perspective this way -- "Our monthly viewership is the equivalent of roughly ten Super Bowl audiences. If YouTube were a country, we’d be the third largest in the world after China and India".
The team wraps up with a message to all of its users "From the aspiring filmmaker in his basement and the next great pop musician, to the fans all around the world who tune in, subscribe and share their favorite videos with the planet, thank you for making YouTube what it is today". Now where can the company go from here?


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122 self-storage units have been added to the Premier Marinas Swanwick facility
Move over Big Yellow and Safestore, Premier Marinas is getting into the self-storage business.
The marina chain opened its first self-storage facility at Swanwick this week (2 February), with the aim of attracting local residents and businesses as well as berth holders.
A total of 6,000 sq ft of storage space is available across 122 units, giving boat owners a convenient and safer alternative to leaving valuable gear on board or lugging it home and locking in the garage.
The self-storage units range in size from 10-75 sq ft and are covered 24/7 by both CCTV and on-site security staff.
The minimum commitment for a unit is 28 days, and Premier Marinas is currently offering lower introductory rates, including four weeks free on all bookings of more than eight weeks.
Pete Bradshaw, CEO of Premier Marinas, explained the rationale behind a marina chain branching out into the self-storage business:
“Self storage is increasingly popular with families and businesses looking to use space more effectively in their homes and at work.
“Our self storage facility is perfect for the marine community and a great alternative to the big city based self storage operators,” he added.


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Hillshire looks beyond meat with Birds Eye, Vlasic
New York — Hillshire Brands is pushing further outside the deli case with a deal to buy the maker of Birds Eye frozen vegetables, Duncan Hines cake mixes and Hungry-Man frozen dinners.
The Chicago-based company, which makes Hillshire Farm lunch meats, Jimmy Dean sausages and Ball Park franks, said Monday that it would buy Pinnacle Foods in a deal valued at $4.23 billion. The move extends Hillshire's reach into other sections of the supermarket as more Americans watch how much meat they're eating.
Among Pinnacle's other brands are Wish-Bone salad dressing, Celeste frozen pizzas and Vlasic pickles.
"Meats go with vegetables, sandwiches go with pickles," Hillshire CEO Sean Connolly said in explaining why the deal made sense during a conference call with analysts.
In a phone interview, Connolly noted that Americans are eating meat just as often, but less of it per meal. He said that actually benefits Hillshire because foods that incorporate different ingredients — such as its Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches — are more profitable than simpler items such as lunchmeat or sausages.
"We've often said we like products that are more than just meat," Connolly said.
Hillshire, which has been struggling with weak sales, also said last month that it was buying Van's Natural Foods, which makes gluten-free products including cereal, chips and snack bars.
Given its reduced reliance on meat, the new Hillshire is expected to have significantly higher profit margins. Rising prices for meat have hurt Hillshire's profit margins and led the company to increase prices.
Each share of Parsippany, N.J.-based Pinnacle Foods Inc. common stock will be exchanged for $18 in cash and 0.5 shares of Hillshire Brands Co. common stock. The companies said the implied purchase price is $36.02 per share, an 18% premium to Pinnacle's Friday closing price. Including Pinnacle's outstanding debt, they put the deal's total value at about $6.6 billion.
The combined company will use the Hillshire Brands name and be based in Chicago.
Recent national business updates from the Associated Press


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Daily Archives: August 24, 2012
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 21:50 BST
OnLive is closing out its free Indie Weekend Giveaway promotion by handing out PoP – Methodology Experiment One, Lume, Dear Esther, and Defense Grid Gold for free. To get the games free of charge, you’ll need to visit OnLive’s Facebook page click a link or two, and follow the instructions to redeem your free game. Thanks, Eurogamer.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 21:33 BST
Greg Canessa, Activision’s vice president of mobile development, is of the opinion Smartphones will catch up with current-generation console graphics and processing power soon.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 21:20 BST
Dungeon & Fighter, as it’s known in China, surpassed 3 million maximum concurrent users in June of this year. Dungeon Fighter Online, as it’s known outside of China, is developed by Nexon, and it’s last concurrent record was 2.6 million users. The free-to-play MMO was released four years ago, and the game was released on Steam June 28. Thanks, GI International.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 21:02 BST
World of Warcraft Remote subscription service is now free, according to Blizzard. This means, if you are a WoW subscriber, you no longer have to pay for it. All of the features which were previously part of the optional subscription service are now available for free starting today. You can get a list of the features available through here. In order to use the service, you will need to download the World of Warcraft Mobile Armory app, which is free for Android, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 20:48 BST
Sat, Aug 25, 2012 | 07:50 BST
A new video from the live-action Halo 4 series, Forward Unto Dawn, has been released. It shows three new recruits getting their locks clipped as they prepare for UNSC training. The video features each one describing their feelings on becoming a soldier, the insurrectionists, and more. Watch for yourself through Halo Waypoint or below via Machinima. The full series will be released in October, and Halo 4 will release on Xbox 360 in November.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 19:55 BST
In Soul Sacrifice, Keiji Inafune’s adding moral ambiguity to the mix so that players will feel conflicted about whether or not a monster they’re fighting should be killed or saved.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 19:40 BST
Star Wars 1313 has a new video available, which is a short documentary called Descent to the Underworld. Along with providing a bit of new information on the title, the video also shows off some rather nice artwork depicting the criminal underworld of Level 1313, deep below the surface of Coruscant. In the game, players will step into the shoes of a bounty hunter – instead of a Jedi this time – and while LucasArts has yet to announce platforms or release window for Star Wars 1313, some suspect it may be an early next-generation console release. We’ll see. Thanks, Edo.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 19:26 BST
The Secret World Issue #2: Digging Deeper, has been delayed into September, according to Funcom. Originally set to launch next week on August 28, the studio said it delayed the release in order to give the team more time on finishing it up. The delay was caused by recent redundancies and cost reductions after the MMO’s launch, which the firm said “naturally affected the production schedule as work on readjusting the team and our internal development processes,” continues. Digging Deeper will now release on September 11.
Sat, Aug 25, 2012 | 16:59 BST
Leviathan, the latest DLC for Mass Effect 3, has a new trailer. It’s below, and shows the intrepid Commander Shepherd jumping into the ocean, hitting bottom, and seeing something he probably shouldn’t have – and we’re not talking about talking sponges sporting slacks. The Leviathan DLC will release on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 August 28.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 20:54 BST
Nintendo products make up close to 70% of the games market in Japan, according to a Media Create report attached to the latest retail charts. This is the largest share of the Japanese hardware and software market Nintendo has acquired in the last five years. On the hardware side of things, Nintendo offerings make up 75% of all hardware sales, compared to Sony’s 23%. The latest charts show the top 10 games in the country were on Nintendo consoles with 69.74% of software sold, compared with Sony consoles garnering 29.18% of sales. Via Wired.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 17:29 BST
EA has released its latest Update video featuring host Matt Cuttle. Posted below, find out all about the new cover stars for FIFA 13, a community boxart competition for Medal of Honor: Warfighter, SimCity, The Sims 3 Supernatural and the demo for Madden NFL 13.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 18:03 BST
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 17:03 BST
Rock Band World, a new full-featured companion application for Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz, has been announced by Harmonix.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 16:31 BST
Battlefield 3 servers are being quadrupled in number on both PS3 and Xbox 360, according to DICE. The firm said the additional servers were added due to the public’s “wish for more official DICE servers.” The firm states players will still be able to be quick matched into any ranked server with the upgrade. More information on the additional servers can be found on the Battlefield Blog.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 16:05 BST
Hitman: Absolution’s Contracts Mode lets players make anyone a target. Watch how to make your own contract hits and put the world to the test right here.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 15:34 BST
Tiny Troopers is available now on PC and Mac through various digital services, as well as retail in western Europe and Australia.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 15:11 BST
World of Tanks’ Clan Wars mode will be integrated with Wargaming’s World of Warplanes, according to game producer Sergey Ilyshyn, and the combining of the two games is just the start.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 14:56 BST
GTA 5 was gifted with more screenshots today by Rockstar. The firm has graced the masses with 10 screenshots this week. Rockstar has promised more Grand Theft Auto 5 content will arrive in the next few weeks, but failed to say what we can expect. The game has not been given a release date yet.
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 14:16 BST
Guild Wars 2 beta weekends have inspired ArenaNet economist John Smith to create an infographic detailing the game’s virtual economy, the amount of coin and wealth distribution across the land of Tyria. According to Smith, the MMO has “one of the largest” virtual economies “ever created,” and some of his finding have proved to be rather interesting so far. The graph is below, and a larger version is through here. Guild Wars 2 launches for those who pre-purchased the game tomorrow via the three-day head start. The official launch is on August 28. You can look over launch times and dates here. Thanks, PCgamesN.


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ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS and LONDON, UK – 18 DECEMBER 2017 – Global agricultural goods merchant Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has become a member of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), a pioneering coalition of companies from across the global shipping industry.
LDC joins other SSI members who are working together to help create a more environmentally sustainable maritime industry by 2040.
As a leading agribusiness company, LDC originates, processes, transports and merchandises a diversified product range around the world annually, helping to feed and clothe up to 500 million people. Sustainability is at the heart of LDC’s operations and the company has set ambitious targets for environmental improvements across every aspect of its operations. This includes engaging with shipyards and encouraging more fuel-efficient vessels.
Tom Holmer, General Manager of SSI, said: “I am delighted to welcome Louis Dreyfus Company as our latest member. LDC joins other like-minded organisations committed to driving change in shipping to create a clean, sustainable and socially responsible industry. The sharing of ideas and best practice across different organisations is a critical part of our journey towards reducing greenhouse gases, developing new technology and becoming more transparent and accountable. I look forward to the valuable contribution that LDC will make.”
Sebastien Landerretche, Head of Freight at Louis Dreyfus Company, said: “At LDC, the importance of identifying and addressing sustainability challenges across our wide variety of businesses cannot be overstated. This applies equally to our freight activity. We recognise that the SSI can help us to address such challenges in shipping the 81 million tons of agricultural goods that we handle annually, and we look forward to working together towards more sustainable shipping operations.”


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Raul Medina wanted a taco. This wasn’t an unusual craving. But the catch was that Medina is vegan. “And I couldn’t stand any of the vegan tacos out there,” he explained. “You can’t just put broccoli in there and call it a taco.”
It was a veritable conundrum for the young Mexican-American living in Oakland. And that’s why, in the rich tradition of California experimentalism, he embarked on a quest to innovate a better taco.
You see, Medina grew up in Southern California. In his youth, he wasn’t vegan, so naturally he enjoyed savory barbacoa tacos, and even piping hot, meaty bowls of Vietnamese pho in Westminster’s Little Saigon neighborhood near where he was raised. He knew that, if he wanted to revisit the flavors — the meat — of his youth, he’d have to fake it. And he’d have to do it himself.
That’s why, on September 12 of last year, Medina debuted Taqueria La Venganza: a humble pop-up that he set up on the sidewalk near his downtown Oakland studio apartment. He served up street tacos and Mexican fare, all vegan. Now, months later, Venganza is an award-winning destination for many East Bay foodies, vegan or not.
[pullquote-1]Importantly, it’s also one of few local spots for cuisine that celebrates the culinary traditions of immigrant food, instead of simply appropriating “ethnic” eats to California’s agricultural bounty. Or, as Medina put it: “[Vegan] California cuisine, it’s really good — but it shouldn’t be called Mexican food.”
Medina’s fake-meat tacos taste so much like the real carne, they even trick his parents. “We make a vegan tripe that is so close to actual tripe that people freak out,” he said. “It fooled my parents. It’s ridiculous. It’s funky, it’s gamey.”
Venganza’s flagship dish, however, is the barbacoa — so popular that it took first prize at the Los Angeles Best Vegan Taco Competition last October (do not take lightly the phenomenon of an Oaklander winning a taco fest in SoCal).
He’s reluctant to divulge his barbacoa formula, but Medina did share that he uses three types of tofu, which he actually smokes in lieu of using liquid smoke. To mimic the fatty, unctuous character of the meat, he adds starches, yam flour, and other ingredients, which he says impart the feel of cartilage, tendon, and “the gummy fat” qualities.
“In one bite of the taco, you get fat, you get meat, you get oil — it’s as close as you get to the taste,” he assured.
Medina says his goal isn’t to serve the East Bay’s bourgie foodie contingent, or hipsters. He wants to make food for folks who love real Mexican tacos — but probably shouldn’t be eating a lot of meat, for health or dietary reasons.
Sadly, the barbacoa is served at special-occasion events only, like quinceañeras. So, it’s hard to come by. But keep an eye out for the next appearance on Venganza’s Instagram: @TheVeganTaqueria. (Medina also teased the prospect of a food truck in the near future, too.)
If you’re a vegan craving more than just tacos — it happens — there’s also chef Mohamed Aboghanem’s restaurant Saha, inside the Art Deco building on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley that formerly housed a vegan restaurant called Herbivore. Aboghanem’s menu strikes a remarkable equilibrium between traditional, meat-forward Yemeni fare, and also vegan-friendly dishes. For instance, he highlights both lamb — which he says is commonly the main dish during Yemeni meals, always eaten at the end — and also vegetable-dominant, dairy-free eats featuring potato, okra, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, salads, and rice.
The chef says the most popular vegan dish at Saha right now is his signature curry, which he describes as having a “a Yemenese background to it.” It includes plentiful fresh greens, mushroom, and tofu. It’s “a super-light yellow curry,” he said, but unlike what you would find in Thailand or India. The main spice in it is hawaij, he explained (his version is a blend of cardamom, saffron, turmeric, cumin, and black pepper), which he grounds into a paste with bell peppers and mangoes. There’s also some dried chili and vinegar, and the result has the consistency of a chatni, he said, and is served over quinoa.
“People really love it. I think the clientele is at least 30 percent vegan, if not more,” the chef said.
One of the most exciting aspects of eating vegan at Saha is that you can visit the restaurant often and not be forced to order the same dish twice. At dinner service, Aboghanem says the vegan falafels, formed with mushroom into little balls, and the Yemenese fouel — which Express food editor Luke Tsai praised during his review of Saha last year — are quite popular. The fouel is a hummus-like dip, made from fava beans instead of chickpeas, and with a bit more zing, from the floral and herbal za’atar spices.
“Yemen is a poor country. They do love lamb. But when you’re at a Yemenese house, there’s a lot of different dishes,” including many veggie and vegan options, the chef explained. “Some, I give them a twist, and some I leave them alone, like the Yemenese okra,” which is served in helba, the national Yemenese dish, a stew with fenugreek, potatoes, and rice, which the chef said is like a hearty gumbo.
Aboghanem likes that East Bay diners embrace his distinctive menu. “Berkeley now is like San Francisco thirty years ago,” said Aboghanem, who moved his restaurant from across the bay last year. He doesn’t regret it one bit.
Back in Oakland, many of the dishes at chef Preeti Mistry’s Juhu Beach Club, in the Temescal neighborhood, also harken to the dairy-free fare of her childhood Indian-American cuisine. “I grew up eating mostly vegan at home,” she explained. Her mom is vegetarian, and that’s why many dinner and brunch options at Juhu are at once traditional but also vegan-friendly.
Consider Juhu’s most popular item: the Manchurian cauliflower, which Mistry described as having “cult status” on the menu. It’s a classic dish, but her spin on it celebrates “the little things,” she said, such as how chefs prepare the cauliflower itself, slicing it in different ways — thinner pieces and florets — which impart different textures. She adds carrots and onions to amplify the variety of flavors.
There’s also Juhu’s summer eggplant curry (returning soon), which Mistry said they strive to keep vegan and faithful to the traditional baingan bharta. But … they’ll dress it up a bit, to make it more interesting visually and texturally, since, as she put it, “it’s delicious — but it kind of looks like baby poop.”
Juhu’s eggplant curry features whole-globe eggplants, roasted and, later, puréed, and also heirloom and Japanese eggplants, doused in house-made garam masala and roasted, then added in pieces, along with some kale or chard. Again, traditional, distinguished — and vegan.
“Dinner every night was, generally, aside from some ghee that might be on the roti, the only other dairy would be a raita,” Mistry explained of the regional Gujarat fare she enjoyed as a child. “All of the vegetable dishes that my mom makes are vegan.”
Juhu features a weekend brunch, which, like Saha, also has a few vegan options, such as the popular “doswaffle,” comprised of masala potatoes, sambar, and coconut chutney.
Perhaps the take-home is that the East Bay’s culinary diversity is very much no longer for just carnivores. “Here in downtown Oakland, you have a lot of different communities that come together,” said taco master Medina.
And now it’s easy for the no-meat crowd to join in.
Taqueria La Venganza: With regular pop-ups in Oakland and San Leandro; @TheVeganTaqueria on Instagram.
Saha: 2451 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley; SahaBerkeley.com.
Juhu Beach Club: 5179 Telegraph Ave, Oakland; JuhuBeachClub.com.


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Rumor: iNiS Developing Lips?
Elite Beat Agents developer may be be working on leaked 360 karaoke game.
The source "appeared to originate from within Microsoft," the Joystiq story notes, but keep in mind the existence of Lips itself is still unconfirmed. But it's worth noting that back in September of last year, iNiS co-founder Keiichi Yano confirmed his studio was working on a 360 game, and said that "a couple of things we're working on right now are definitely geared towards that [casual music games] market." Lips sure sounds like a casual music game, doesn't it?
Sure it does. But then again, we've already seen that just because circumstantial evidence seems to fit with a game revealed as part of this Intellisponse leak doesn't mean that what it points to is actually true. As usual with rumors, we'll take a skeptical wait-and-see approach.


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The future of ecommerce in 2023 will be shaped by four major trends:
- The merging of the physical and digital retail experience
- In recent years we have seen a rise in the merging of the physical and digital retail experience. With more and more stores opening up their inventory to be available online, customers can now buy items from the comfort of their own home. For example, when a customer walks into an H&M store they are greeted with a tablet where they can browse through all of the items that are currently on sale. This
- The rise in cashless payments
- The rise in cashless payments is being seen in all sectors. This includes banking, food services, and retail. Now, the latest trend is with “mobile payment” apps that allow consumers to avoid carrying cash or credit cards at all.
- Increased focus on customer experience and engagement
- The customer experience is now the number one priority for most companies, with customer engagement taking a close second. Improving the customer experience is about much more than developing an excellent product or service. It’s about making every single touchpoint count and in order to do that, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the customer journey.
- The increasing use of AI for personalization, automation, and innovation
- The use of AI for personalization and automation is changing the dynamic of how companies do business. With more than 50% of executives planning to adopt AI for customer service by 2023, the growth trajectory is poised to continue its upward trajectory.
The Ecommerce Industry’s Past, Present and Future
The ecommerce industry has been growing rapidly in the last few years. In the future, it is expected to grow even more and, with that growth, come some new trends.
In this report, we will cover some of the most important trends that are expected in the next few years. These include changes in customer behavior and expectations as well as changes on how they shop online. We will also cover how these changes will affect marketing campaigns and product development.
The Future of Retail in 2023
The retail industry is changing rapidly, and it’s difficult to predict what the future of retail will look like. But there are a few trends that are shaping the future of retail.
One trend is that consumers are increasingly buying products online. This means that there will be more e-commerce companies and fewer brick-and-mortar stores in the future. Another trend is that consumers are looking for a personalized shopping experience, which means that digital assistants like Alexa or Siri will be more pervasive in the future.
How the Internet-of-Things is Shaping the Future of Ecommerce
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects that are able to communicate with each other and exchange data via the internet. The IoT is transforming the way we live, work and interact with one another.
The IoT has evolved from a niche group of tech enthusiasts to a mainstream technology that impacts nearly every industry. With more and more devices connected to the internet, the IoT will continue to grow exponentially in terms of its business applications, market size, and societal impact.
The Future of Ecommerce in 2023: What To Expect & how to Prepare
Ecommerce has been an integral part of the global economy for years now. But with the introduction of emerging technologies and the changing needs of consumers, it’s only natural to expect that ecommerce will change in the future.
The future of ecommerce is going to be heavily influenced by technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and other emerging technologies.
AI is a technology that is going to have a huge impact on how we shop in the near future. It will allow us to get more personalized results from our searches, recommend us products based on our particular tastes, and even help us find products that we didn’t know existed but are perfect for us.
How Technology Will Change The Future Of Ecommerce In The Next 10 Years
Retailers will have to be more innovative and creative in order to stay ahead of the competition. We are already seeing retailers like Macy’s and Target experimenting with new ways to attract customers. For example, Target is offering a free 6-month subscription to its exclusive clothing line, and Macy’s has been updating its stores with a new boutique concept.
Furthermore, retailers are increasingly using technology as a way of increasing customer engagement. For example, Nordstrom has started using artificial intelligence-powered chatbots on Facebook Messenger to answer customer questions about the company’s products.
How will the adoption of 5G affect ECommerce?
5G will enable more people to access the internet and for more devices to be connected. This will make a significant impact on the way we shop online as it means that consumers can expect a better experience when browsing and buying products.
The adoption of 5G technology has many implications for businesses, but one of the most important is how it will affect online shopping. Consumers today are increasingly using mobile devices to browse and buy products, which means they are not just accessing the internet through their desktops or laptops. Mobile-optimized sites and apps have been developed with this in mind, so that all shoppers can have an enjoyable experience when they’re researching products online.
However, this also means that retailers need to ensure their websites are optimized for mobile devices too – otherwise, consumers may decide to go elsewhere if they find it difficult to navigate or purchase items on these sites.
Is Amazon too powerful in the ECommerce market?
Amazon is the undisputed king of ECommerce. It has almost everything you could want to buy and is a household name. But, in recent years, Amazon has been diversifying its business to offer more than just online shopping.
Amazon’s competitors are doing their best to stay afloat in the face of this behemoth. Walmart, for example, is offering discounts on some items and free two-day shipping on orders over $35. Target has introduced a store credit card that provides 5% off all purchases and will also offer free shipping on orders over $25 starting in 2020.
Amazon’s competition may be trying new strategies, but it doesn’t seem like they can compete with Amazon’s dominance in the market right now
Is it too late to start an E-Commerce Business?
The global economy is changing, and the next decade will bring many changes. With the rise of AI, it’s not too late for entrepreneurs to start their own e-commerce business.
There are a lot of startups that are transforming the global economy, changing how we work and live. Entrepreneurship is on the rise, with more people starting their own businesses in 2020s than ever before.
E-Commerce is one industry that has been transformed by new technologies and entrepreneurs have taken advantage of this opportunity to create successful businesses.
Conclusion & Discussion Points on What’s to Come for Ecommerce in 2023
Ecommerce is a fast-growing industry that has seen exponential growth in the past few years. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, ecommerce sites will be able to provide more personalized services to their customers.
The use of AI in ecommerce will make it possible for companies to offer more personalized services to their customers, and also help them identify new opportunities for revenue generation.


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By Thandiwe Kubere
MASERU – Econet Lesotho in partnership with Bienvenue, in celebration of His Majesty’s 60th birthday and 23 year anniversary, hosted the official theme launch of the Royal Cup.
The mention of the cup is commonly thought of and associated with soccer or in this case horse racing, but Bienvenue representative Motlatsi Russell, clarified the royal cup will encompass many activities, those with a purpose of promoting and enhancing the love of culture to Basotho, especially among the youth. Explaining the Royal cup, he said it for one consists of horse racing events which will take place in Mohale’s Hoek on September 23rd, 2023- which is three months from now.
He emphasized that the district selected for the event was due to its long-term legacy of hosting horse racing in Lesotho and how the racing has consistently been held successfully in that area. Part of the motive of this initiatives is to boost and give back to communities, especially those in the outskirts so as to improve businesses in those areas and promote domestic tourism.
ETL’s GM: Marketing and Customer Experience, Mapusetso Nts’ekhe declared that even with previous events, Econet has constantly been promoting the celebration of the country’s rich heritage and cultural tapestry of the Kingdom of Lesotho. She said the companies are now proud to unveil the Royal Cup, a horse racing event and designer showcase of the diverse fashion talent in Lesotho amongst many others. “We were created for a time as this. Therefore, this is a call out to Basotho to hold hands in celebrating our culture and being proud of it, and to also empower our youth through different opportunities and invest in their different talents”, she said. Ms. Nts’ekhe emphasized the purpose is to gain a prosperous Lesotho and that can only be achieved by investing in it.
This venture also aims to captivate and engage audiences while showcasing the country’s deep-rooted traditions and creativity. It is aimed to be one of Lesotho’s grandest occasion which beyond the races, will offer a flourishing marketplace with a delightful array of hospitality services, live music and entertainment, captivating fashion shows, and vibrant stalls showcasing a wide variety of products.
Ms. Nts’ekhe emphasized the significance of the Royal Cup within a series of initiatives that Econet is spearheading. She highlighted the company’s steadfast commitment to support endeavours aimed at promoting and preserving Lesotho’s rich history and cultural heritage. “We believe it is paramount that we join forces as stakeholders, leveraging the cherished values and cultural beliefs of Basotho, in our collective efforts to contribute to the country’s development agenda,” stated Nts’ekhe.
Mr. Russell further expressed his excitement for the upcoming designer showcase, which will be presented by the talented Lesotho-born Thabo Makhetha, an esteemed Creative Director and fashion designer who gained recognition through her collection of luxury jackets, capes, and coats titled “Kobo ea Bohali”.
Here, Thabo Makhetha made a call out to talented Basotho individuals countrywide who took an interest in fashion and believe they have what it takes, to apply for the competition since it might be their ladder to making it big. The competition is specifically for individuals and not for companies because the end goal is to help promote and uplift upcoming fashion designers so that they as well get the chance of flourishing and reach the company stage so that they as well create employment for others.
Mr. Russell revealed that in the later stage of the competition five designers will be carefully selected by Thabo Makhetha and will participate in a comprehensive program that encompasses immersive workshops, visits to clothing manufacturers, social media challenges, and a panel session with judges. The program will culminate in a fashion showcase at the Royal Cup, where a deserving winner will be crowned on the same day.
He explained that for horse racing, different procedures will be carried out and the expectation from contestants will be clearly stated and the public will be well sensitized about when the preparations take off. Basotho are therefore urged to come through- join in the celebration and participate accordingly for the Royal Cup which they also have a stake in.


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KPD Asking for Help to Identify Debit Card Abuse Suspect
The Killeen Police Department is asking if anyone can identify this Debit Card Abuse Suspect.
Detectives are looking for the male in this photo who used a stolen debit card to make purchases at a Wal-Mart and McDonalds Restaurant in Killeen on Saturday, July 25, 2015. The debit card was stolen from the victims’ vehicle sometime during the night on Friday, July 24, 2015. The suspect was last seen driving a 2012 black Ford Fusion with Texas License plates DT3Z763.
Detectives are asking anyone who can identify the male in the photo or has information about this Debit Card Abuse, to contact Crime Stoppers at 526-TIPS (8477) or go online anonymously at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com or text BELLCO along with the tip to 274637. Text HELP to 274637 for help with the tip or text STOP to 274637 to stop the tip, message and data rates may apply. All information is confidential and anonymous, and if your tip leads to the identity and arrest of the suspect responsible for this crime, you could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash.
Killeen Police Department


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Robo Wunderkind raises $500k and releases new apps for its robot that anyone can build
When we last saw Robo Wunderkind, the company was on stage as part of the Startup Battlefield competition at Disrupt SF 2015. This week it is announcing that it has closed an additional $500,000 in ...
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Japanese handbag brands that have their sights set on gaining a foothold in their home market — let alone anywhere else in the world — have their work cut out for them.
The Japanese bag market, which Euromonitor International currently values at 750.3 billion yen, or $7.54 billion, is mainly dominated by European and U.S. brands. Many experts agree that this is not likely to change anytime soon, and yet there have recently been a few domestic labels that are attempting to capitalize on the shifting preferences of Japanese consumers.
One such brand is owned by the company Barcos, which was founded in 1991 by Takashi Yamamoto. While the company produces several of its own brands, it also has a sizable business manufacturing private-label bags for general and specialty retailers. Currently, its largest sales channel is catalogues and TV shopping, and it has also sold its products to such stores as TJ Maxx.
Even though this kind of high-volume business is good from a sales point of view, Yamamoto wanted to reach a more high-fashion consumer. To that end, he opened an office in Florence, where staff track and interpret global fashion trends. These are then passed on to a Tokyo-based design team, and eventually are incorporated into samples produced by factories in China.
While this arrangement has proven successful — Yamamoto has had interest from some top department stores and boutiques in the U.S. and Europe — it is a system that is bypassed for the company’s newest brand. Called Barcos J Line, it comprises fine leather handbags and accessories that are priced on par with European luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada and Céline — bags start at 136,500 yen ($1,366) and go up from there — but are all made in Japan. The styles are simple and elegant, largely targeting women over 40 years old. The brand uses fine leathers and high quality materials, and some limited-edition items are available in exotic skins like crocodile and elephant (which Yamamoto assures is legally sourced).
“The Italian office isn’t involved with J Line,” Yamamoto said, pointing out just how different the tastes of Japanese consumers can be compared with those of shoppers in the West. “In reality, they would say that these bags won’t sell, but so far the response in Japan has been positive.”
Barcos J Line was developed partially because of a request from a buyer at Isetan department stores, who lamented the lack of Japanese handbag brands at the high end of the market. The line is currently available only at Isetan’s flagship in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district and the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi flagship, which is operated by the same company. Yamamoto declined to give a sales figure, but said that so far sales have been about 50 percent higher than initial estimates. Still, the brand has a long way to go before it can reach the name recognition of its international counterparts.
“I think the main reason [overseas labels sell better] is that Japanese people still love bags from famous brands,” said Miyako Sekimoto, fashion director at Matsuya, another chain of department stores. “There are some local brands that are getting popular, but it’s in very small quantities.”
“Brand equity is the most important criterion for handbag purchases in Japan, surpassing concerns about price and design,” agreed Sulabh Madhwal, a personal accessories industry analyst at Euromonitor International. “International luxury brands have managed to achieve this through their premium positioning in retail locations, judicial use of advertising space in magazines and newspapers, and most recently, social media.”
The only Japanese bag brand to reach a level of popularity rivaling that of overseas brands is Samantha Thavasa, which currently ranks seventh in terms of share of the country’s bag market, with 2.2 percent, according to data from Euromonitor International. This is a larger share than that held by brands including Prada, Marc Jacobs, Loewe and Miu Miu.
Besides retail stores in enviable, high-traffic locations, Samantha Thavasa is also known for hiring international celebrities to appear in its campaigns and collaborate on designs. The current face of Samantha Thavasa is Miranda Kerr, and past models have included Paris and Nicky Hilton, Penélope and Monica Cruz, Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, Taylor Momsen and Victoria Beckham. The brand’s leather bags are priced around 30,000 to 40,000 yen, or roughly $300 to $400.
A spokeswoman for Samantha Thavasa said the business philosophy of the company’s president involves a three-pronged strategy. “It’s not enough to have the best products,” she said, “we also have to have the best store locations and the best marketing.”
The leading brand in Japan’s bag market is Coach, holding a 7.6 percent share in 2012. What’s interesting to note is that this has grown since 2008, when it was 6.3 percent. Conversely, the market share of some luxury brands, including Gucci and Louis Vuitton, has decreased over that same period. Consistent with its global positioning as an “affordable luxury” brand, Coach’s leather shoulder bags start at around 60,000 yen, or $610, in Japan.
“About two or three years ago, there weren’t any brands that competed with Samantha Thavasa in the market. Above us was Coach, and it was really just Coach or Samantha,” said Kazumasa Terada, chairman and president of Samantha Thavasa. “Then brands like Tory Burch, Kate Spade and Marc by Marc Jacobs entered the arena and the market itself, both from a business point of view and a fashion point of view, became more competitive. The feeling of tension increased, which I think is a good thing. It’s better when the market is competitive.”
Ajioka, a Japanese company with a history dating to 1917, is looking to get a piece of this growing middle segment of the market, to which end it has recently started producing locally made handbags under its own label, called Epoi. Founded as a manufacturer of men’s small leather goods, Ajioka has in the past held license agreements in Japan with more than 100 brands, including Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and Sonia Rykiel. Currently, it produces licensed products for brands such as Kenzo, Anteprima and Comme Ça Du Mode.
While the brand Epoi was established in 2004 with wallets and other small leather goods, it only started selling handbags about a year ago. Epoi’s small leather goods are available in more than 80 stores in Japan, while the bags are currently only sold at Barneys Japan and the brand’s first freestanding store, which opened in August.
Like Barcos, Ajioka has a substantial amount of production in China, but Epoi products are all made locally. The 30-year-old president, Shohei Ajioka, the fifth generation of his family to helm the company, says it is the responsibility of brands like Epoi to promote the fact that their products are made in Japan.
“Our customer service is much better than foreign brands’ because if someone wants to get a repair, we can repair it here so it doesn’t take six months or something like that,” he said. “Also, our quality is much better than made in China for sure.”
Epoi’s products are priced more accessibly that those of Barcos J Line. Bags start at about 30,000 yen ($300) and small leather goods start at about 10,000 yen ($100). Ajioka said he wants to keep prices affordable while maintaining quality, as many consumers are looking for products that offer more value for their money. Last year, Epoi’s sales were about $3 million, and Ajioka noted monthly figures have been increasing by about 20 percent each month since handbags were added to the collection.
“Constrained consumer spending since 2009 created growth opportunities for a few local brands as well as ‘accessible luxury’ brands such as Coach,” said Euromonitor’s Madhwal. “However, the target consumer for local brands remains limited.”
That may be true, but it is also becoming more apparent that brand recognition alone is no longer enough to succeed in Japan. And as more domestic brands fight for a bigger share of the market, international brands might find themselves having to reevaluate their strategy for what continues to be one of the world’s most influential markets.
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Dominique Maître)
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
Not only does #TheProfit return to CNBC tonight, but @marcuslemonis has launched @shopmarcus, a new shopping and lifestyle retail experience in Aspen and Chicago, with more locations to come. The retail stores offer in-store stylists and a variety of contemporary womenswear selections.
“It’s life, I’m going to face it,” @mingxi11 sighed. “I fell, but you know, I think the most important thing is that I get back up. I had the love, the help from my sister — the girl next to me Gizele [Oliveira] — she’s so nice. When I went backstage everybody was trying to comfort me like ‘Oh Ming, it’s OK.’ I’m really, really touched. I think it’s them who gave me the courage to go back on stage for the finale,” Xi told WWD of her fall at the @victoriassecret fashion show. (📷: David Fisher) #wwdfashion #vsfashionshow #victoriassecret
@louisvuitton tapped @therealpeterlindbergh for its latest city-centric photo book, which is part of a series called Fashion Eye. The primarily black and white book captures the spirit of Berlin in 57 images shot between 1989 and 2019. “Berlin is an inspiration for me, more than a city. I mean @millajovovich is simply Berlin!” said Lindbergh. #wwdfashion
“You know, I think audiences expect a certain performance so I have to deliver to them what they’re expecting to a certain degree. But I’m also a different actor and a different person, I have my own spin on the character,” says @noahegalvin of his takeover of the leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen” following the departure of @bensplatt, who originated the role. Read WWD’s interview with the 23-year-old actor on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
For pre-fall 2018, @etro created richly-colored wonderland, using tapestries, textiles and wallpapers from the Eastern world at large. The line featured floral and graphic prints and jacquard motifs, like this two-piece look featured here. #wwdfashion (📷: Giovanna Pavesi)
@kith is moving into children’s. The men’s and women’s streetwear brand has launched Kidset, a Kith kids line located in New York at 64 Bleecker Street. The line includes mini versions of staple Kith pieces like the Astor bomber jacket and the Kith box logo sweatshirts, along with a wall that can display up to 120 pairs of shoes from @adidas, @newbalance, @timberland and more. #wwdfashion
“I just wanted to create this fully rounded character, but I do think what excited me most was just the opportunity to give a group of people representation that I feel needs it. I like to do characters in projects that stand for something and Karolina definitely does, so that was really exciting to me,” @ginnygardner says of her new role in @hulu’s “The Runaways.” Gardner plays Karolina Dean, a queer superhero, which is a rarity for @marvel. Read more about Gardner’s character on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)


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Data out yesterday revealed a good end to 2017 for the UK, but the economy has a challenge ahead. How well can it grapple with it?The ONS, as it so often does, has changed its mind. It did estimate UK growth in GDP at the end of last year at 0.6 per cent, but its statisticians, after dusting off their abacuses and slide rules (there are brownie points if, unlike the late soul singer Sam Cooke, you know what a slide rule is for) the ONS found that actually the UK economy grew by 0.7 per cent at the end of 2017.
That was the joint fastest growth rate since 2014.
An odd thing has been creeping into a lot of economic data of late, it keeps surprising on the upside – and this has rather muddied the Brexit debate – but the odds are good that if the UK had voted to Remain, the economy would be growing just as fast, maybe even faster.
Actually, at this stage, after experiencing such a nasty downturn, as the UK did for many years after the 2008 crash, you would expect above average growth – but in fact, prior to 2008, 0.7 per cent quarter on quarter growth was not exceptional. By past standards, this recovery is weak.
But there is a bigger snag.
Inflation is rising, but wage increases seem to be slowing.
In December, inflation was 1.6 per cent. In the three months to December, wages rose at an annual rate of 2.6 per cent. More to the point, inflation is on an upwards trajectory, wage increases seem to have peaked in November.
Economists expect inflation to carry on rising, and to pass three per cent, or maybe go higher, later this year. There is more than one reason. Inflation is on the up across much of the world, it has been rising fast in the US, and Eurozone, while producer prices have surged in China. But the UK has the additional issue of a weaker pound – exacerbating the inflation challenge.
Meanwhile, surveys suggest that employers are in no hurry to increase wages.
It is surely only a matter of time before inflation rises faster than wages, meaning real wages start falling – and that won’t be good for the consumer related areas of the economy.
But it was precisely these areas that supported the economy in Q4 of last year, consumer spending jumped nicely, consumer related services did well too – indeed, the ONS cited these two areas as the main drivers of growth in the quarter.
But since then, we have had data to show that retail sales fell in January, the Halifax recorded a fall in house prices, Rightmove recorded the lowest rate of annual growth in house prices since 2013.
In short, consumer-led growth is slowing even before real wages start to fall. What will happen in a few months’ time when real wages are falling?
On the other hand, UK manufacturing is looking promising. The recent Industrial Trends Survey from CBI hit its highest level in two years, and while the latest Purchasing Managers Index tracking UK manufacturing in January fell a little from the previous months’ good showing, a sub-index tracking output rose to its highest level since 2014.
But, in the GDP race, can the consumer successfully hand the baton over to manufacturing?
The surveys, the data and the apparent course of inflation suggests that some kind of handover is occurring, but there is a question mark over how smooth it will be.
The latest purchasing managers indexes were consistent with growth of 0.5 per cent, the odds are high that as the UK re-balances, there will be slow down in growth, but maybe nothing too drastic.
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By Jemima Owen-Jones2017-04-28T09:05:00+01:00
Air Liquide has announced that it has signed an agreement with Lincoln Electric France SAS, subsidiary of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. to sell Air Liquide Welding, its subsidiary specialised in the manufacture of welding and cutting technologies.
This agreement follows the exclusive negotiations agreement announced on the 2nd March 2017 with Lincoln Electric, the world leader in design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment.
The completion of the transaction is subject to obtaining the usual regulatory approvals, including competition authorities’ approval.
Both parties expect the transaction to be completed in the second half of 2017.
Air Liquide is focused on its Gas & Services activities following the acquisition of Airgas, as well as on the implementation of its company programme NEOS for the 2016-2020 period.
Air Liquide Welding is a key player in the manufacturing of welding and cutting technologies and generated a turnover of around €350m ($368m) in 2016. The move, if successful, would complement Lincoln Electric’s leading position in the welding product manufacturing sector.
Welding product manufacturer Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Air Liquide’s welding business.
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has promoted Steven B. Hedlund to Executive Vice-President and President of the International Welding segment.
Month on month, the gasworld website is the market-leading news portal for the global industrial gas sector, growing at an unprecedented rate and keeping its readers at the forefront of breaking news, insightful analysis and must-see features across the industry. Launched in 2004 and continually evolving, it is the only independent online news, views and intelligence portal for the global industrial gas community and the larger end-user markets – and home to the ever-increasing range of gasworld platforms.
To find out more about gasworld's advertising opportunities click here.


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Above: USDA: Praying Before School Lunch, 1936 by Unknown
You know what marginal group of tens of millions of people are being put at risk for poor nutrition by the global surge in food prices? American’s school children! Back in the salad days of 2006 when money grew on houses, glowing accounts abounded on plans to revamp the way kids eat at school, trading the fattening and soulless frozen pizzas and burgers that fueled the childhood obesity crisis (remember that?) for the new religion of local/seasonal/organic.
Now that reality has set in, schools are swapping fresh for canned, seeing higher demand for subsidized lunches, and wondering how they’ll cope with 30% to 50% cost increases while the federal per-meal subsidy remains static at an unrealistic 23 cents. Probably not all that well! Our youngest citizens have been historically poor budgetary advocates for themselves, so when their slice of the pie shrinks, that’s generally the end of the story. Federal law will see to it that students are provided with a minimum number of calories each day, but that’s also true for prisoners.
In this rapidly shifting environment for school meals, you have to wonder, just what are the children eating? Thanks to the wonders of the internet, hundreds of cafeteria menus are available for our inspection. Here’s a sampling from around the country of what’s being served for lunch today:
• Wicomico County, Maryland — Pork dippers with dipping sauce and dinner roll or hot dog on bun and potato rounds, cole slaw, pears
• Fulton County, Illinois — tortellini, pork tenderloin/bun, baked potato, salad bar, uncrustable PBJ, garlic bread, tossed salad, pineapple chunks, shape up in cup
• Fond du Lac County, WIsconsin — Grilled cheese, chicken noodle soup, raw vegetables and dip, mandarin oranges
• Pinellas County, Florida — Cheeseburger, Cuban pork with yellow rice, cheese stick munch and dip, potato wedges, beans, broccoli, Cuban toast
• Tate County, Mississippi — Salisbury Steak w/Gravy, Baked Chicken Nuggets, Fruit and Yogurt Salad, Ham & Cheese on Bun, Black-Eyed Peas, Straight Cut French Fries, Seasoned Cabbage, Chilled Peach Slices, Mixed Fruit, Fruit Juice, Central MS Cornbread, Rice, Saltine Crackers.
Illuminating! Almost everyone is eating pig products for lunch, and there also seems to be a preponderance of dippable items. Regional themes are clearly in play, like the Cuban toast in Florida and the intriguing “Central MS Cornbread” in Mississippi. It’s heartening to see that, however unhealthy the dishes and low quality the ingredients, there’s still a nod to culinary heterogeneity. Every school seems to be offering fruit and vegetables in some (unexciting) form, but that’s a legal mandate; and besides, one of the articles mentioned that broccoli is now cost-competitive with flour!
Economic crunch seen in school lunch rooms [Bradenton Herald]
Food Crisis Forcing Cafeteria Managers To Try New Menus [AHN]
Food prices take bite out of school lunch menus [Star-Ledger]


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McDonald's Corp. is having trouble stomaching the competition.
The world's biggest hamburger chain said Thursday that a key sales figure fell for the first time in nearly a decade in October, as it faced the double whammy of a challenging economy abroad and intensifying competition at home.
The company, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, says global revenue at restaurants open at least 13 months fell 1.8 per cent for the month. The last time it dropped was in March 2003.
The figure is a key metric because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations. It's a snapshot of money spent on food at both company-owned and franchised restaurants and does not reflect corporate revenue.
McDonald's says the figure fell 2.2 per cent in both the U.S. and Europe in October. In the region encompassing Asia, the Middle East and Africa, it dropped 2.4 per cent. CEO Don Thompson cited the "pervasive challenges of today's global marketplace" for the declines.
In Europe, where McDonald's gets 40 per cent of its business, McDonald's said it would offer new meal combinations at various price ranges amid ongoing economic uncertainty, and continue remodeling restaurants. The company said positive results in the United Kingdom were offset by declines across many other regions.
In Asia, the company said it plans to differentiate itself with menu offerings tailored to local tastes.
After years of outperforming its rivals, McDonald's has been hitting some road bumps recently, with longtime rivals such as Burger King and Wendy's Co. reviving their brands with improved menus and new TV ad campaigns. Taco Bell, owned by Yum Brands Inc., is also enjoying growth with the help of new offerings such as it Doritos Locos Tacos and higher-end Cantina Bell bowls and burritos.
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Amazon Echo Download Windows 10
To upload your own music, download and install the Amazon Music app on your.
So if you haven t already done so, install the Amazon Alexa app on your.
Amazon Alexa arrives on Windows 10 PCs as virtual assistants go to.
A dozen helpful Amazon Echo how-to tips and tricks ZDNet.
I suspect the more recent Windows 10 announcement could be the bigger deal.
Almost two years ago, the Amazon Echo found its way into our home and has become a.
Amazon s Alexa Can Now Run on Your Windows, Mac, or Linux.
The Windows 10 devices launched this week with Alexa built include.
How to Use Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant From a Computer.
Amazon veröffentlicht demnächst Alexa-App für Windows 10.
Microsoft plans to take on Amazon Echo with Home Hub, a new software tool that will turn any Windows 10 PC into a family-friendly smart.
Apps for Listening to Audible Audiobooks m Fire TV.
Amazon Alexa - Download - NETZWELT Amazon Alexa Download: Habt ihr eure Wohnung oder euer Haus mit.
Amazon Alexa is coming to Windows 10 PCs (possible to download for.


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'4-wheeler' next year, says Bajaj
Bajaj Auto’s much anticipated small car — which Rajiv Bajaj, managing director said may not necessarily be a car but a ‘four-wheeler’ — will hit the streets in 2012. HT reports.business Updated: Mar 31, 2011 23:08 IST
Bajaj Auto’s much anticipated small car — which Rajiv Bajaj, managing director said may not necessarily be a car but a ‘four-wheeler’ — will hit the streets in 2012.
“I rode the prototype on Tuesday and it is nice,” said Rajiv Bajaj at a press conference on Thursday.
“We are developing a four-wheeler which is born out of the skill of a motorcycle/three-wheeler company. Potentially it can be both a private vehicle and a taxi,” he said.
“In all probability, it will be made in our Aurangabad factory where we make three-wheelers which will have synergies with our upcoming three and four wheeler platforms,” Bajaj said.
About the three-way joint- venture between Bajaj, Renault and Nissan for an ultra low cost car he said, “There is no JV any more. This is an independent project of Bajaj Auto. Product development and manufacturing will be 100% our responsibility,” he said.
He highlighted mileage and the price as the key features of the upcoming four-wheeler, which might be marketed by Renault and Nissan as well. Bajaj launched its Discover 125 cc on Thursday. Discover already has a 100 cc and 150 cc commuter bikes which together clock 1.5 lakh units a month.
“We are coming up with a new line up of Discover and Pulsar bikes by the second half of this year.” he said. Bajaj is also launching ‘an all new Boxer,’ the low cost bike from its stable.
He said the company expects 20% growth in volumes in the financial year 2011-12.
“This year we are poised to finish with 3.82 million vehicles, achieving almost 95% of the target we had set for ourselves. Next fiscal our target is to grow 20% in domestic business, exports of three-wheelers and motorcycles and in spare part business”.


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Cutting short all speculation, Steve Pacheco, director, Advertising at FedEx says that the shipping company is not to be expected back in the ad game of the SuperBowl this year.
Speaking to ClickZ in an exclusive interview ahead of the Ad Club of New York event last week honoring him with the 2013 Advertising Person of the Year award, Pacheco shared his views on advertising in the age of context, and gave a few pointers as to where FedEx will be putting its efforts in the year to come.
(Still) No SuperBowl for FedEx but yes, big time sports sponsorships, and a big push in social media too. Since it retired from producing SuperBowl ads back in 2009, the question has shifted from “when” to “whether” FedEx would come back.
The company has been reallocating its budgets, successfully conducting campaigns on the sidelines and encountering increasing levels of engagement.
Looking ahead at FedEx’s strategy, Pacheco says that sports sponsorships will get a subsequent boost next year. See the video as he goes into details of that plan.
But first, he started out by sharing with us the campaign he is the most proud of.
There’s a significant increase of video content this year, and as it still hasn’t reached its peak, we’re analysing the most popular ... read more
Verizon has agreed to acquire Yahoo's operating business in a $4.8 billion cash deal, sealing the fate of one of the internet's pioneering giants.
Facebook will take the lion's share – more than two thirds – of global ad revenues for social sites this year, according to a report from eMarketer.


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Shares of Whole Foods dipped Tuesday after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to "sell" from "neutral," citing competition from all parts of the grocery industry and online.
"Whole Foods is experiencing a competitive barrage, losing share in its core natural and organic business to a variety of players," Goldman analysts said in a note to clients. "Wellness has gone mass, and it is not coming back, never again to be relegated to niche specialty retailers serving price-insensitive, early adopters."
Shares of the grocery retailer have fallen more than 15 percent year to date, trading down more than 1 percent at $34.18 on Tuesday. Goldman set a $31 price target for WFM, which would be a 10 percent fall from Monday's close.
Goldman is guarded on natural and organic incumbents like Whole Foods, which could be eclipsed by lower-priced, more convenient challengers. Some of these smaller players taking market share include Trader Joe's and The Fresh Market. Costco and Kroger could be the biggest threats to Whole Foods because of a focus on price and quality, the note said.
"The group has raised the competitive bar in natural and organic: a differentiated product offering is no longer sufficient," the Goldman note said.


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On March 9, Apple is widely expected to let us know exactly when its much-anticipated Watch line will ship and how much all the new models will cost. But what other new products might Apple unveil?
Smartwatches. Health monitors. Pedometers. Activity trackers. We've collected the best products in t
The Mobile World Congress event is a vital one for Samsung. Along with the Galaxy S6, we'll be watching for new wearables and a mobile payments system.
Is Samsung afraid to commit to one Galaxy S6? The two new models are the same, except for the screen -- and both remove features fans loved. Meanwhile, HTC shows off the Grip fitness band and Vive VR headset.
Can Mercedes-Benz convince Americans its tri-star logo belongs on a compact SUV?
Samsung goes after Apple Pay with its own payment system called Samsung Pay.
We put Samsung's newest smartphones next to the S3, S4 and S5 to see how the design of its mobiles has changed.
The most important things to know when shopping for a cell phone.
The Galaxy S5 and earlier Galaxy smartphones had replaceable batteries and storage expansion slots. But the new GS6 says goodbye to that flexibility in favor of a sleeker design.
Samsung says it's made its new metal-and-glass smartphones easier to use. We investigate the new interface features.
Technically Incorrect: With less superfluous software and more emphasis on design, some might wonder whether Samsung's new phone is a little too similar to the iPhone. Will that make marketing it easier?


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LONDON — Jimmy Choo is set to open three freestanding stores around the Mediterranean over the next six months.
In May, the company will open a two-story, 1,728-square-foot store at Cannes, France's new Miramar 65 Croisette, in time for the international film festival.
The following month, Choo will open a 2,160-square-foot shop in Barcelona on the Paseo de Gracia. The store, in the heart of the city's luxury shopping district, will be the third Choo unit in Spain after Madrid and Puerto Banus.
Over the summer, the company also has plans to open a store on Rome's Via dei Condotti. The store, which will span 756 square feet, will be the second Italian unit after a shop in Milan.
"We have a strong following at our directly operated stores in Paris, Madrid and Milan, and we believe that adding these new locations will allow us to better service the Jimmy Choo clientele in these countries," said chief executive officer Joshua Schulman.
The openings will take the number of Choo stores in Europe to 20, and all three stores will reflect the global design concept, with a Forties-inspired boudoir atmosphere.
In other Choo news, the company has hired the New York-based AR as its first major creative agency. AR will be working alongside Jimmy Choo founder and president Tamara Mellon on the ad campaigns, beginning with the fall.
"They understand exactly my vision for Jimmy Choo," said Mellon. "Working with an agency of this caliber is consistent with my goal to elevate our brand to one of the world's leading luxury houses."
Previously, the campaigns had been produced in-house. AR's clients include Valentino, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers and Jones New York.
The moves at Choo come as the company continues its fast-paced growth, which includes plans to launch sunglasses and eyewear this year and a new Saba handbag in the spring. Choo earlier this month reported that sales rose 28 percent in 2007 to 85.6 million pounds, or $171.3 million at average exchange rates. Sales at Choo's directly operated stores were up 23 percent to 51.9 million pounds, or $102.8 million. The biggest retail drivers in the period were Europe, with 53 percent growth, the U.K., with 27 percent, and the U.S., with 23 percent. Wholesale sales to third parties, including Choo franchisees, rose 38 percent to 33.7 million pounds, or $67.4 million.
@kith is moving into children’s. The men’s and women’s streetwear brand has launched Kidset, a Kith kids line located in New York at 64 Bleecker Street. The line includes mini versions of staple Kith pieces like the Astor bomber jacket and the Kith box logo sweatshirts, along with a wall that can display up to 120 pairs of shoes from @adidas, @newbalance, @timberland and more. #wwdfashion
“I just wanted to create this fully rounded character, but I do think what excited me most was just the opportunity to give a group of people representation that I feel needs it. I like to do characters in projects that stand for something and Karolina definitely does, so that was really exciting to me,” @ginnygardner says of her new role in @hulu’s “The Runaways.” Gardner plays Karolina Dean, a queer superhero, which is a rarity for @marvel. Read more about Gardner’s character on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)
@heriethpaul and @gracebol have a moment on the @victoriassecret fashion show 2017. See every look from the runway on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo) #wwdfashion #victoriassecret #VSFashionShow
“Azzedine has been one of the biggest influences in my life. He has always been such a strong, loving, fatherly figure to me. I call him Papa. His designs are indescribably unique, they are pieces of art. He knew how to make the female form look its loveliest. I have so many memories of him; my favorite might be during my first show with him in Paris. He liked me and he wanted to help me get more work. He called all his friends at Kenzo and Comme des Garcons, and asked them to book me. They said, ‘But she can’t walk!’ And he said, ‘but she has such a great ass!' His friendship and support has been the great privilege of my career. I can't imagine life without him. Repose en paix mon Papa.” - @stephanieseymour tells @wwd. #wwdfashion (📷: @steveeichner) #alaia #azzedinealaia
Azzedine Alaïa, flanked by two of his closest friends, models Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell.
He designed Seymour’s dress for her 1995 wedding to Peter Brant, and treated Campbell (who famously called him Papa), like a daughter. For more on the legendary designer, tap the link in bio. #wwdfashion #alaia #azzedinealaia


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THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has announced a new duty regime for car imports which will see importers paying more than 100 percent of the value of the car with effect from yesterday.
This follows the gazetting of Statutory Instrument Number 148 of 2014 which reviewed the rates of Customs Duty on the importation of certain motor vehicles with effect from 1 November.
Government gazetted the reviewed rates after Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa announced that Government wanted to increase duty on motor vehicles, which he said contributed 10 percent of the country’s estimated $4 million import bill in the first half of this year.
Zimra last Friday announced the new customs duty which sees duty for passenger motor vehicles with an engine capacity of up to 1 500cc go up from 20 percent to 40 percent, double cabs from 40 percent to 60 percent while for single cabs and panel vans of a payload exceeding 800 kilogrammes but not exceeding 1 400 kilogrammes the duty has gone up from 20 to 40 percent.
However, Zimra announced that overall duty paid in most cases would exceed 100 percent as it is calculated using Value for Duty Purposes which encompasses cost, insurance and freight value plus other incidental charges and expenses incurred in the purchase of the vehicle and its subsequent transportation up to the first port of entry.
The other charges added on the VDP include port handling charges, storage charges and other special handling fees.
According to the duty schedule released by the tax collector, a 2005 sedan with an engine capacity of 1 495cc with a value of $4 000 will now attract total duty of $4 472.
The amount according to Zimra will encompass duty of $2 090, surtax of $1 300 and Value Added Tax of $1 092.
A 2001 sedan with an engine capacity of 1 800cc with a value of $5 000 will now attract total duty of $5 074.
Analysts said the latest duty increase would see a spike in the prices of imported cars, although this would add revenue to the fiscus it was a blow to most people who could not afford to buy new locally assembled cars.
Zimbabweans have been buying used cars from mainly Japan, a situation Government said was worrying as it was resulting in flight of foreign currency.
However, the local car assembly industry is almost dead and the few cars they produce are priced beyond many people’s reach.
Source: Sunday News


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Workers at an Amazon facility near Albany, N.Y., have voted decisively against being represented by the upstart Amazon Labor Union, denting efforts to expand unionization across the giant e-commerce company.
Employees at the warehouse cast 206 votes to be represented by the union and 406 against, according to a count released on Tuesday by the National Labor Relations Board. Almost 950 workers were eligible to vote.
The vote was the Amazon Labor Union’s second unsuccessful election since a surprise victory in April, when workers at an Amazon facility on Staten Island voted to form the first union of the company’s warehouse employees in the United States.
“We’re glad that our team in Albany was able to have their voices heard, and that they chose to keep the direct relationship with Amazon,” Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokeswoman, said in a statement.
In recent months, the Amazon Labor Union has debated whether to focus on winning a contract at the Staten Island facility, known as JFK8, or on expanding its reach to other warehouses around the country through additional elections.
Christian Smalls, the union’s president, “is very much in favor of trying to create opportunities for as many workers as possible to vote,” said Cassio Mendoza, a JFK8 worker and the union’s communications director. At the same time, the union has felt pressure to demonstrate progress to workers on Staten Island, and has recently stepped up its internal organizing there after months of minimal public activity.
The result on Tuesday from the ALB1 warehouse in Castleton-on-Hudson, N.Y., about 10 miles south of Albany, did not appear to dissuade the union from reaching beyond JFK8.
“We are filled with resolve to continue and expand our campaign for fair treatment for all Amazon workers,” Mr. Smalls said in a statement. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”
About 80 percent of the union’s budget of more than half a million dollars has been focused on Staten Island, union officials have said. The rest has been set aside for expansion efforts, including at ALB1 and a facility in Southern California that submitted a petition for an election last week.
Mr. Smalls said the election “wasn’t free and fair.” Even before the ballots were tallied on Tuesday, the union expressed concern that Amazon had improperly interfered with the vote, potentially laying the groundwork for a legal objection to the result.
Labor board staff members have been investigating 27 charges of unfair labor practices that the union filed against Amazon before the voting began, the agency said last week. The union has since lodged additional concerns.
One included an accusation that a worker had been suspended for complaining that one of Amazon’s anti-union consultants followed him around and harassed him during the voting period, according to Retu Singla, a lawyer representing the union.
“They try to whip votes during the election,” said Mr. Mendoza, who added that the consultant appeared to be wearing worker clothes and an Amazon vest.
Another employee, who was not directly involved with the union campaign and requested anonymity, said on the first day of voting that he had seen what appeared to be “fake employees” who were wearing Amazon vests but did not know the basics of the jobs and cast doubt on the union’s ability to negotiate a contract.
Matthew Bodie, a former N.L.R.B. lawyer now at the University of Minnesota Law School, said that while one-on-one conversations with workers during the voting period were allowed, seeking to deceive employees by misrepresenting the identity of company agents could amount to interference in the election.
Amazon declined to comment on the accusations.
The ALB1 warehouse handles oversize items like outdoor equipment and televisions. A recent report by a worker advocacy group found that the facility had the highest rate of serious injuries of any Amazon warehouse in New York for which the group was able to obtain government data.
Amazon has emphasized its minimum starting wage and benefits, and has said it has improved its safety record more than other retailers in recent years. In its messaging to workers, it has questioned the Amazon Labor Union’s experience and has said workers could be worse off if they voted for a union.
In interviews outside the warehouse in September, some Amazon workers said they were supporting the union because pay was too low, especially in light of how physically taxing the work could be. The company recently raised its starting base wage at the warehouse to $17 an hour, from $15.70.
“I think we need a union — we need more pay,” said Masud Abdullah, an employee at the warehouse. He said he had made about $22 an hour at an industrial bakery, but left that job because the hours did not fit with his parenting responsibilities.
He and other workers also said they felt Amazon’s disciplinary policies were sometimes arbitrary. “It’s like you don’t have nobody representing you,” Mr. Abdullah said. “They could get you in and out for anything.”
Other workers said they didn’t believe a union was necessary because Amazon already provided solid pay and benefits, such as health care and college tuition subsidies. Even some union supporters acknowledged that the company often treated workers well.
Some workers expressed skepticism that the Amazon Labor Union would deliver on its promises, such as improving pay. “I feel like I haven’t seen any evidence,” said Jacob Carpenter, who works at the warehouse. He added that he planned to vote no.
Amazon has been fighting the union’s successful vote on Staten Island. After a lengthy hearing on the company’s objections to that election, a labor board official recently endorsed the union’s victory. A regional official must still weigh in, but Amazon told workers at JFK8 that it intended to appeal. The union has recently pushed a petition to pressure Amazon to negotiate a contract.


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This article was originally published in the Cosmetics Business Supplements Trend Report. Receive your copy here.
Given the ongoing global turmoil and financial uncertainty, many brands across industries have taken to projecting joy and optimism.
It’s a movement that Wunderman Thompson coined the “joyconomy”, and over the past year this has seen brands offer sense of play across their products and packaging designs.
“As in any time of crisis, consumers look for products that evoke joy,” says Sophie Grant-Vaswani, Futures Director at creative design agency Pearlfisher London.
“We’re seeing a shift away from minimalist, neutral packaging and more vibrant, spirited designs take centre stage across all categories, but especially in beauty.
“Colours, prints and innovations are optimised by brands in the category for maximum pleasure, as well as function.”