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The world’s best-selling CBD brand is partnering with a leading British CBD distributor as the UK hemp extract market continues to grow
DENVER – (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF) Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc., (“Charlotte’s Web” or the “Company”), the market leader in cannabidiol (“CBD”) hemp extract wellness products, has signed an exclusive product distribution agreement in the United Kingdom with Savage Cabbage Ltd., one of the oldest and most trusted CBD companies in the UK, serving an active and loyal customer base of wellness seekers.
Savage Cabbage is a Member of EIHA (European Industrial Hemp Association) and has been the official UK distributor of Charlotte’s Web CBD since 2016, in alignment with its three founding pillars: Quality, Consistency and Reliability. Under the new agreement, Savage Cabbage will continue to sell a large portfolio of Charlotte’s Web whole-plant, full spectrum products that contain all the beneficial compounds that exist in the hemp plant as well as CBD.
Savage Cabbage will be utilizing its extensive network in the UK to expand the presence of Charlotte’s Web as the Novel Foods regulatory framework continues to progress. Currently operating in the ecommerce space, the partnership will focus on expanding the presence of Charlotte’s Web in retail distribution channels and on the high street, with a growing number of notable retailers starting to include CBD products on their shelves.
Jade Proudman is the founder and CEO of Savage Cabbage, who credits Charlotte’s Web CBD Oil with “saving her life“. She is an influential voice in the UK & European CBD community, while also being a Global Ambassador of Charlotte’s Web. UK-based CannabisWealth and Cannabis Health News media recently named Mrs. Proudman as one of top 40 inspirational women in the cannabis industry.
“As the demand for CBD products continues to rise around the globe, it is critical that consumers continue to better understand how CBD products work and the benefits of hemp botanical wellness through nature. Savage Cabbage has shared similar values as Charlotte’s Web since inception and we are excited to start expanding our presence in the UK market beyond ecommerce,” said Jacques Tortoroli, CEO of Charlotte’s Web. “We are pleased to extend our relationship with exclusivity for one of our long-standing international partners. As the #1 selling CBD brand in the US, the UK is one of the most exciting international CBD markets and we look forward to building our presence here.”
“I’m delighted to commence the new phase of our long-standing relationship with Charlotte’s Web. We have shared a vision– providing high quality CBD products to consumers in the UK and helping people to live better, naturally,” said Jade Proudman, Founder and CEO of Savage Cabbage. “Many consumers are of the belief that all CBD products are equal. Since 2016, we have seen firsthand the benefits of full spectrum hemp extract products like Charlotte’s Web within our community. These products offer benefits where many other CBD isolate products don’t, and we will continue to champion greater consumer choice and access to products that represent the very best of Mother Nature. As Aristotle once said, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’.”
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About Savage Cabbage Ltd.
A trusted provider of hemp, health and wellness, Savage Cabbage is one of the oldest CBD companies in the UK. Savage Cabbage focuses on a highly curated range of all-natural, full spectrum hemp extract products containing CBD and an array of other beneficial plant compound to offer the Entourage Effect, the way nature intended. Savage Cabbage is focused on a human-centric approach to support consumers on their self-care journey with industry renowned customer care services.
About Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc.
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc., a Certified B Corporation headquartered in Denver, is the market leader in innovative hemp extract wellness products under a family of brands which includes Charlotte’s Web™, CBD Medic™, CBD Clinic™, and Harmony Hemp™. Charlotte’s Web branded premium quality products start with proprietary hemp genetics that are 100-percent American farm grown and manufactured into hemp extracts containing naturally occurring phytocannabinoids including cannabidiol (“CBD”), CBC, CBG, terpenes, flavonoids, and other beneficial hemp compounds. The Company’s CW Labs R&D division, advances hemp science at two centers of excellence in Louisville, Colorado, and the Hauptmann Woodward Research Institute at the University at Buffalo, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network. Charlotte’s Web product categories include full-spectrum hemp CBD oil tinctures (liquid products), CBD gummies (sleep, stress, exercise recovery), CBD capsules, CBD topical creams and lotions, as well as CBD pet products for dogs. Through its vertically integrated business model, Charlotte’s Web maintains stringent control over product quality and consistency. Charlotte’s Web products are distributed to more than 15,000 retail, over 8,000 health care practitioners, and online through the Company’s website at www.CharlottesWeb.com.
Charlotte’s Web is a science-driven and a socially and environmentally conscious company. It is committed to using business as a force for good and a catalyst for innovation. Charlotte’s Web donates a portion of its pre-tax earnings to numerous charitable organizations in support of the greater good.
Charlotte’s Web was founded by the seven Stanley Brothers with a mission to unleash the healing powers of botanicals through compassion and science, benefiting the planet and all who live upon it. Charlotte’s Web is a socially and environmentally conscious company and is committed to using business as a force for good and a catalyst for innovation. The Company weighs sound business decisions with consideration for how its efforts affect employees, customers, the environment, and diverse communities. The rate the Company pays for agricultural products reflects a fair and sustainable rate driving higher quality yield, encouraging regenerative farming practices, and supporting U.S. farming communities. Management believes that its socially oriented and environmentally responsible actions have a positive impact on its customers, suppliers, employees and stakeholders. Charlotte’s Web donates a portion of its pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations.
Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, ”forward-looking information”). In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “an opportunity exists”, ”is positioned”, “estimates”, “intends”, “assumes”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Specifically, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company’s expansion activities and growth strategy; the Company’s expectations regarding future cash flow and its financial position; the results of cost saving efforts; the impact and results of the Company’s reorganization; market share expectations; and impacts of regulatory changes.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s current expectations, estimates and projections regarding the future of our business, future plans, strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking information include, among others, the factors discussed throughout the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recently filed annual information form available on www.SEDAR.com and in the Company’s most recently filed Form 10, as amended, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available on www.SEC.com. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking information, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
- Minnesota’s Black cannabis users far more likely to face arrest than white onesBlack Minnesotans are nearly five times as likely to be arrested on marijuana charges as white ones, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It’s a disparity that has persisted for years, despite data showing that Black and white residents use cannabis at similar rates.
- Lawmakers ask MO governor to add cannabis legalization in special sessionA bipartisan group of lawmakers and activists are calling for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to include marijuana legalization on the agenda of the legislature’s upcoming special session.
- In Brief: Pa. Governor Accepting Cannabis Pardon Requests in Sept.Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announce the PA Marijuana Pardon Program, offering expedited pardon reviews to people convicted of only minor cannabis possession for personal use.
- Michigan State Police stops cannabis testing after false positivesMichigan State Police have acknowledged that its blood tests for marijuana are producing false positives for THC, and it will immediately halt testing.
- Missouri Dems expect boost from cannabis, but split on specificsSupport for legalization and heartburn about the amendment’s details have led to soul-searching among Democratic Party officials across the state. The consternation is particularly acute among Black Democratic leaders.
- Signatures on Nebraska medical cannabis petitions to get another lookThe Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office has agreed to take another look at signatures submitted by a group seeking legalization of medical marijuana to determine if they should have been counted.
- Nebraska senator pledges to seek special session to legalize medical cannabisAdvocates for legalization of medical marijuana were pursuing a trio of options Tuesday after their attempt at qualifying the issue for the November ballot fell short.
- Adult-use cannabis unlikely to be on Oklahoma ballot in NovemberThe Yes on 820 campaign faces several obstacles in the last part of its journey to the ballot as another challenge period will last at least 10 business days and the state Election Board needs time to print ballots for overseas voters.
- Lawsuit asks to block cannabis legalization from Missouri ballotAn anti-drug legalization activist has filed a lawsuit arguing a recreational marijuana initiative petition was improperly certified by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and should not appear on the November ballot.
- Cannabis legalization advocates turn THC customers into political alliesNow that Minnesota has legalized hemp-derived THC products as of July 1, proponents of full legalization are activating a new resource in the political battle over the green plant’s future: customers.


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August 23, 2021
There will be no shortage of great finds when vintage and artisan vendors set up shop at the Cherry Street Pier this weekend for the final Liberty Flea Market of 2021.
Produced by The Captain's Vintage, the market will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, and Sunday, Aug. 29. In the past, it has featured vendors selling everything from throwback jerseys and T-shirts to colorful jewelry, handcrafted soaps and candles, furniture, antiques, beef jerky and hot sauce.
Shoppers and vendors must mask up, per Philadelphia's latest COVID-19 mandate.
Admission is free to the Liberty Flea Market, which has been held once a month dating back to Memorial Day weekend in May. For a list of returning and previous vendors, check out the market's website.
Concessions will be available from regular Cherry Street Pier vendors: French Toast Bites (open from noon to 10 p.m.) and Rita's Italian Ice (noon to 8 p.m.). You can also click here to make a reservation at The Garden at Cherry Street Pier, an open-air eatery offering snacks, salads, sandwiches and cocktails on tap from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

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It's still August. But, believe it or not, the country’s biggest stores are already looking for Christmas staff.
* BOOTS is recruiting 7,000 seasonal workers. The company has set up a website inviting people to apply for a range of jobs, including sales and operations assistants and sales consultants. It offers a choice of flexible working options, plus benefits including discounts of 22.5% on Boots’ own products and 12.5% on others. Find out more and apply online at www.boots.jobs/christmas or call 0870 320 4444.
* OTHER big stores, including Tesco, Argos and Sainsbury’s are currently finalising their festive plans and will begin recruiting in September.
Sainsbury’s took on more than 10,000 people last year and, with its huge expansion drive, expects to take on similar numbers this year.
* LONDON’S top people’s store Harrods opened its Christmas World department at the beginning of August. It is now offering a range of temporary positions from the shop floor to administration and distribution. For more details, log on to www.harrodscareers.com/your-options .
* SHOPS are not the only places requiring extra workers. The Post Office plans to recruit 17,000 people from the middle of next month, and pubs, bars and restaurants will also be looking for extra help.
While these are temporary jobs, they can launch a new career. Sainsbury’s and Boots invite a number of temporary staff to take up permanent positions after Christmas.
So if you want a festive job, now’s the time to start planning. Prepare your CV and log on to company websites. And watch this space for details of seasonal job fairs.


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H&M group will encourage suppliers to pay workers digitally for the benefit of nearly 2 million workers
The Swedish fashion company H&M group announced today that it will encourage its suppliers to pay their workers through mobile money or other digital forms to improve the livelihoods of its workforce, enhance transparency and cut factory costs.
This effort comes as the company officially joins the Better Than Cash Alliance, a United Nations-based partnership of governments, companies and international organizations accelerating the transition from cash to digital payments.
“Digital payments are an efficient and scalable way to improve the lives of the employees of our suppliers. They offer a faster, safer and more transparent way to receive their salary, increase financial inclusion and support women’s economic independence,” said Gustav Loven, Social Sustainability Manager at H&M group. “Also, for our suppliers, paying wages digitally can generate savings, increase security and provide more accurate data on wages.”
Sixty-five percent of the 1.6 million people employed along H&M group’s supply chain are women, many of them with limited access to the financial services they need to create a better life for themselves and their families. Many factory workers worldwide are paid entirely in cash, which entails cumbersome, expensive and dangerous processes for both factories and workers. Encouraging suppliers to pay wages through digital channels, such as bank accounts, cards or mobile money, will build on H&M group’s sustainability commitment to work with its business partners to promote good working conditions, fair living wages and sustainable economic growth.
As the majority of the benefits will be realized by female workers, this move is a prime example of a corporation working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals on Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).
“H&M group is taking a bold step in recognizing how cash-heavy supply chains limit efforts to empower workers and prevent companies from increasing transparency. And, it’s inefficient,” said Dr Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing Director of the Better Than Cash Alliance. “H&M group’s leadership will help inspire other companies in the industry, and beyond, to make the shift to digital payments and contribute to inclusive growth, as well as to the Sustainable Development Goals, in emerging markets.”
In addition, H&M group is one of the leading users of organic cotton and Better Cotton in the world, and it adheres to socially and environmentally sustainable standards and actions. Expanding digital payments to the world’s cotton supply chain could potentially reach 250 million people, including smallholder farmers who currently have limited access to digital payment systems and financial services in general. Digitizing payments, when designed responsibly and responsively to consumer needs, can enable H&M group to grow its supplier base and help create a sustainable, productive agricultural sector, the promotion of which is a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The Better Than Cash Alliance has published new research examining a selection of garment manufacturing factories in Bangladesh that have transitioned workers’ wage payments from cash to digital in the past five years. From a factory perspective, the analysis shows that transitioning to digital payments can save factories approximately 750 hours of production a month, due to workers spending less time away from the production line and reduce costs by more than 85 percent within two years of paying workers via a hybrid mobile money/bank account model. At the same time, moving toward a digital economy supports financial inclusion by drawing previously unbanked workers into the formal financial system and building financial skills.
H&M group joins 55 other Better Than Cash Alliance members, and will have access to the knowledge and technical expertise offered by the Alliance and its members to accelerate the shift to digital payments, helping to advance economic growth and expand financial inclusion.
The Better Than Cash Alliance is a global partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations that accelerate the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty and drive inclusive growth. The United Nations Capital Development Fund serves as the secretariat.
H&M launches Denim United Unisex Collection
H&M is proud to announce the launch of Denim United, a unisex denim collection, available exclusively online at hm.com on March 23, 2017. With this collection, his and hers clothing are one in the same, blurring borders and challenging norms. Traditional style is revisited with menswear and womenswear, borrowing both materials and silhouettes from one another. The result is a sustainable, modern collection for everyone.
“It is very natural for us to launch a unisex collection as fashion is constantly evolving and intersecting and today we see there are no boundaries in democratic style. Fashion should always be inclusive,” says Marybeth Schmitt, H&M Spokesperson.
Oversized silhouettes and casual mix and match pieces create an effortless style with work wear jackets, overalls, and slouchy shorts, all in a range of washes. The denim pieces combined with high neck t-shirts or the oversized hoody make for the quintessential normcore look.
With this collection H&M is continuing their work towards a more sustainable fashion future and closing the loop on fashion. The garments in the Denim United
collection are all made with more sustainable materials such as organic cotton and recycled cotton.
H&M factory in Myanmar vandalised
A factory in Myanmar making clothes for Swedish fashion retailer H&M has been vandalised. Hundreds of workers stormed the factory and damaged facilities including textile machinery, computers and surveillance cameras. They were demanding better conditions and benefits. Production at the factory has been halted since February 9. The dispute started with a strike in late January following the sacking of a local labour union leader. Workers demanded better performance review system and health care coverage.
It turned violent on February 9, prompting the factory’s closure. The Chinese company makes garments such as skirts and shirts exclusively for H&M. H&M sources the bulk of its clothes in Asian low-cost countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar. Ironically H&M is widely seen as being at the forefront among large apparel companies in promoting workers’ rights and fair wages. The company has called on sourcing countries such as Cambodia and Bangladesh to ensure fair pay for workers.
Myanmar’s fast growing textile industry, which employs more than 300000 workers, has become attractive to global apparel brands such as H&M and Gap following the easing of economic sanctions by the United States and the European Union. But the country is a latecomer and it has some way to go in terms of well-defined labour laws.
Affordable fashion brands make inroad in Vietnam
More and more affordable international fashion brands enter Vietnam, heating up competition and bringing more choices for Vietnamese customers
Competition heating up
In early February, H&M Vietnam has announced opening its first store in Hanoi. According to Inside Retail Asia, the Swedish brand has already begun recruiting staff.
The recruitment advertisement revealed that the store has an area of 2,000 square metres and will need about 100 employees who will be trained abroad for three to five months before officially starting in Vietnam.
H&M also scheduled to recruit in Ho Chi Minh City for its second showroom, which will be located in Vincom Thao Dien (District 2). H&M’s upcoming arrival was predictable, as they have been preceded by most brands of the same tier.
Of its international rivals, Mango has been in Vietnam for the longest time. It opened its first store in Ho Chi Minh City in 2004. In 2015, Mango Mega Store chain with international standards appeared.
Each Mango store has an area of at least 1000 square metres, including three major product lines: Mango Women, Mango Men, and Mango Kids. Currently, there are eleven Mango stores in Vietnam, including four Mango Mega Stores in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Affordable UK fashion brand Topshop joined the Vietnamese market in 2013. Topshop-Topman is a street-style fashion brand for youngsters.
The first Topshop-Topman showroom was opened in Bitexco Financial Tower (Ho Chi Minh City). Topshop’s second store was opened in Hanoi, and at the present, there are altogether four Topshop-Topman stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Half a year ago, in September 2016, fast fashion brand Zara opened its first store in Vietnam with an area of over 2400 square metres in Vincom Dong Khoi (Ho Chi Minh City). Zara reported a revenue of VND5.5 billion (USD 241000) on the first day opening.
As living standards in urban areas are improving, so is the demand for clothing picking up. Additionally, young people are quick to catch up to the newest international trends, which may mean good prospect for the brands.
However, the appearance of more brands means more competition. There is one certain thing though: Vietnamese customers will benefit from this battle, and as these brands widen their product range in the country, they will replace single or small intermediaries who import their products from abroad.
From affordable to luxury
Some domestic fashion brands may worry about being dominated by these famous brands as youngsters in Vietnam may prefer foreign labels to catch up with the latest trends in the world. However, the price is still a barrier for these famous brands when approaching Vietnamese customers.
Affordable prices have always been the pride of H&M, Zara, Mango or Topshop, as they offer more than reasonable prices in more developed countries.
In Vietnam, many items have to be sold cheaper compared to some other countries.
For example, some of Zara’s skirts in Vietnam may be VND100000-200000 (USD 4.5-USD 9) cheaper than in Thailand.
Nevertheless, prices are still high. When entering Vietnam, somehow these affordable brands have turned into luxury fashion labels.
The middle class segment—the target customers of these brands in every country—has a lower income in Vietnam, and there are already numerous established clothing stores and brands with various styles at much more reasonable price in this segment.
For instance, in Daisy shops, a well-known chain of clothing stores for young women, the most expensive items are the overcoats which are priced at VND1.3 million (USD 56), while similar articles in Zara or Mango go for VND2-3 million (USD 87- USD 131).
Besides, these foreign brands are confronted with counterfeit Chinese products. As Vietnam has been repeatedly called to strengthen copyright protection, the design of numerous brands may be copied and sold at a lower price.
Looking through these duplications, it is difficult to recognize that they are fakes. This remarkably influences sales and the reputation of the genuine products.
It would be great news for Vietnamese customers if following in H&M’s steps more and more affordable fashion brands, such as Forever 21, would join the Vietnamese market. However, these brands still have significant barriers to overcome in order to make their way here.


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Amid speculation and debate about a sugar-tax in Australia, an Australian beverage start-up has hedged its bets with new brand
A survey has revealed that most convenience retailers in the UK offer staff less than 10 hours of in-store training
The Fair Work Ombudsman has spoken out against exploitative practices against vulnerable workers, in an address to a Senate inquiry
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers is preparing to launch a class action against Woolworths for alleged breaches of the Corporations Act. Woolworths
A warning has been issued to all workers in the convenience industry following a murder at a Caltex in Queanbeyan
Pepsi’s latest ad campaign has garnered equal amounts of damage and free publicity following a public backlash claiming it trivialises
Fair Work Australia has reported “widespread” incidence of underpayment at United Petroleum outlets. A Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) Activity Report
Scott Herbert has moved over to United Convenience Buyers, where he fills a variety of roles including merchandise manager and business development.
Fuel producer and retailer BP has flagged divestment from refining concerns in order to invest in their retail outlets. BP
Reckitt Benckiser has been ordered to pay up to $6 million after losing a High Court appeal. The Federal Court
Ocean Spray International Services has recently appointed David Wingate into the role of category business development manager, to lead Ocean
Snack and dessert titans in Australia, Tim Tam and Gelato Messina, have united to create their own demi-titan love child: the Tim TamMessina biscuit.


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Airline merger has minimal impact on Tempe
US Airways decided to maintain its corporate presence in downtown Tempe after finalizing an $11 billion merger Feb. 14 with American Airlines, relieving some concerns that Tempe restaurants and shops would lose business.
Concern for the economic future of surrounding downtown businesses arose when the two airlines announced they would be joining forces and relocating the US Airways headquarters to Fort Worth, Texas.
Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said the announcement raised concern in the city council about maintaining a business in Phoenix and downtown Tempe.
“Since we heard this was to be taken place, we met with (US Airways CEO) Doug Parker,” he said. “One of our main concerns was the jobs and maintaining the hub in the Valley at Phoenix Sky Harbor (International) Airport.”
He said US Airways, which will adopt the American Airlines name under the new partnership, will maintain a corporate presence in downtown Tempe.
“(Parker) came through. … (He) kept a commitment to Tempe,” Mitchell said. “We have the opportunity to work with (US Airways) to potentially grow its presence in the valley.”
Robert Mittelstaedt, dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business, said the merger will not affect downtown Tempe or Phoenix as much as originally believed.
He said the headquarter relocation to Fort Worth will result in some job loss, but the impact on the greater Phoenix area will be minimal.
“The job loss is important, but it's not huge compared to the size of the Valley,” Mittelstaedt said. “The economic impact in Tempe is modest. … Most of the concern seems to be around merchants around Mill Avenue.”
Mitchell said the greatest concern right now is maintaining the corporate presence and hopefully increasing employment opportunities in the Valley. He said it is unclear how big of an impact the merger will have on surrounding Tempe businesses.
“At this point, we don't know exactly how it will roll out,” he said.
Mittelstaedt said individual businesses surrounding Mill Avenue might hurt economically for a while from the loss of many US Airways employees. However, downtown Tempe is continuing to grow and new companies are constantly relocating and trying to find new spaces to operate, he said.
“There are always other companies looking around for space and looking at places to locate,” Mittelstaedt said.
Some downtown Tempe businesses agree that the merger will affect their business in the future.
Sandy Stokes, supervisor at restaurant Mission Grille, said restaurants surrounding Mill Avenue and near the US Airways building will lose customers from the merger.
“We do get quite a lot of employees from (US Airways) for lunch and sometimes for breakfast,” Stokes said. “There's no impact at this point because the merge is so new … but do I think it's going to impact our business? Yes.”
Other businesses surrounding Mill Avenue, like Monti's La Casa Vieja, do not expect the upcoming loss of US Airways employees to affect their customer count.
Angelo Muro, manager of Monti's, said the restaurant survived the recession and has established itself in downtown Tempe by creating a clientele that will not be affected by the merge.
“I wouldn't say it would affect us too much,” Muro said. “We've been here since the '50s, and the clientele base is pretty steady.”
Reach the reporter at email@example.com or follow her on Twitter @whitneyparis10


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The latest consumer research from 5WPR tapped more than 2,000 households to gauge sentiment on spending. The data revealed where shoppers intend to splurge this year and also looked at where their disposable income will likely go.
Regarding the latter, the top categories earmarked for spending of disposable income this year were clothing and fashion and dining out, each with 29 percent. Next was travel and experiences at 25 percent, and then electronics and technology at 23 percent. Health and wellness followed with 22 percent.
Regarding categories to splurge on, electronics and technology were tops at 51 percent, followed by health and wellness with 43 percent, and home goods and furniture at 42 percent.
“Consumers recognize the value in splurging on electronics and technology, it’s
a category where shoppers are often looking for good performance quality and product longevity, resulting in splurge pricing,” the report’s authors noted.
And given the current market and inflationary price trends, consumers are looking for deals and ways retailers can help them save money. Regarding specific actions retailers can take to help shoppers, “giving product discounts” came in first with 50 percent and was followed by “waiving shipping fees” at 38 percent. “Offering value-based alternatives” came in third with 30 percent.
“In today’s market, retailers answer to the consumers, and these savvy shoppers are expecting their favorite brands to take on a majority of the heavy lifting,” the report stated. “This could be through cutting costs or taking the commitment out of the purchasing decisions with free returns or try before you buy programs.”
The data also showed a preference for buy now, pay later, with 60 percent of respondents saying they use the feature while shopping. The research also showed that only 11 percent of those who shop with the feature “suggest it impacts how they spend by a lot, indicating that price is not a barrier to purchase, rather BNPL is a value-add experience in the purchasing process.”


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Xbox One is potentially getting a new Career feature
Microsoft is tipped to introduce a major new feature on Xbox One.
A new leak suggests Microsoft is working on a brand new Career system that could transform the way you play.
Potentially working alongside Achievements, the Career system would see players increase in levels and earn prestige ranks by playing games.
That's according to Windows Central, which suggests players will be rewarded with cosmetic Avatar items by opening loot crates.
There's even rumours of a Quests feature in which players can earn rewards by completing objectives such as playing certain games.
The leak points towards a new Career.XboxLive.com subdomain and mentions a system that tracks playtime in your existing library of games.
Xbox One owners are also waiting for a new update that solves an irritating problem.
Microsoft is about to introduce a brand new 'do not disturb' feature, which will disable notifications and prevent people from interrupting your game.
"Sometimes all you want to do is avoid all distractions and focus entirely on your game," Microsoft explains.
"We’ll be including a 'Do not disturb' online status, which will suppress notifications and let your friends know that you’re not available for another game or activity right now."
Another useful feature is the ability to view the next set of Achievements you're closest to.
"With this update, you’ll be able to use the “Next Achievements” feature in the Guide, which enables you to view and sort a cross-games list of upcoming Achievements," Microsoft continues.
According to Microsoft, you can also filter Achievements to prioritise the next set on the list.
"Easily see which Achievements you are closest to, and quickly launch the game to obtain them.
"Sort filters allow you to prioritise next Achievements by closest, most common, rarest, most common rare, and highest Gamerscore."
The new update will be released in full soon.


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We are thrilled to share the successful participation of P.G. GROUP SRL at the prestigious Interbrush 2012, held from May 9 to May 11, 2012, at Messe Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. As the leading International Trade Fair for Machines and Accessories for the Brush, Paintbrush, Paintroller, and Mop Industries, Interbrush 2012 has once again proven to be the pivotal event for industry professionals worldwide.Our Highlights at Interbrush 2012
P.G. GROUP SRL proudly showcased our cutting-edge equipment and technologies at Interbrush 2012, marking a significant milestone in our continuous journey towards innovation and excellence. Our exhibit attracted attention from numerous international visitors, allowing us to demonstrate our capabilities and discuss future trends in the broom and brush industries.
The event was an outstanding opportunity for us to connect with our esteemed clients and forge new contracts, reinforcing our commitment to delivering exceptional value and advancing industry standards. Our participation underscored the significance of Interbrush as the most crucial international meeting place for manufacturers and suppliers in our field.About Interbrush 2012
Interbrush 2012, the International Trade Fair of Machines and Accessories for the Brush, Paintbrush, Paintroller, and Mop Industries, took place at the Messe Freiburg, in the picturesque city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. This year's event continued its tradition of gathering exhibitors from the global broom and brush industries every four years, showcasing the latest technologies and attracting international attendees to Germany's Southwest.
With an increased number of exhibitors by 29 percent since 2008, reaching 180, and nearly 75 percent of these exhibitors hailing from Europe, Interbrush 2012 welcomed an impressive fair attendance of 7,000 visitors from over 90 countries. The participants evaluated complete industrial processing lines, current innovative technologies, and a diverse range of raw materials and semi-finished products, highlighting the event's growing popularity and the importance of Freiburg's fair premises as a prime location for Interbrush.Looking Forward
P.G. GROUP SRL extends its deepest gratitude to all attendees, clients, and the organizers of Interbrush 2012. We are inspired by the success of this event and are eagerly anticipating future opportunities to contribute to the advancement of our industry. Stay tuned to our website, https://thepgg.com
, for more updates on our innovative solutions and upcoming events.
Subscribe for more news at our social media:InstagramYouTubeLinkedIn


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The defect, "delayed bubble", is difficult to avoid during panel production, particularly when the defect is not detected during the process of laminating touch panels, and only later found during assembly, the sources said. Since the manufacturing process of touch panels used in iPhone 5 is of the same as that for iPhone 4, Wintek is expected to remedy the defect quickly, the sources indicated.
Wintek is said to be producing 20-25% of the touch panels for the iPhone 5, while Taiwan-based TPK Holding is producing 60-65% and Chimei Innolux is producing the remainder. Wintek says that all its products are being delivered on schedule.
Apple reportedly plans to ship 25-26 million units of the iPhone 5 in the fourth quarter and is expected to hold an event on October 4th to announce its upcoming products.


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Rdio Offers New Label-Curated Radio Stations
In a bid to separate itself from the crowded (and growing) field of streaming services, Rdio is doing one thing no other platform is doing: They're letting brands, including record labels and media outlets, curate their own stations.
Yesterday (July 7), the streaming service announced it's adding a few more labels, including Glassnote, XL Recordings and Arts & Crafts. The labels all have fairly deep catalogs and spin classics alongside new releases.
Rdio is also growing its list of "Influencer" stations, adding Refinery29 and Yelp (which doesn't seem to make a lot of sense -- when we turned it on earlier, it was playing "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood) to a list that already includes the A.V. Club and country singer Hunter Hayes.
Rdio isn't the only service making moves this week. Tidal joined the ranks of streaming services that offer a family plan. They're giving 50 percent off each additional person added to an existing account.


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Amazon Web Services today launched a new, less-expensive flavor of its cloud-based object storage service meant for data that is infrequently accessed (IA).
+ MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: All aboard the SS Dreamforce +
Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) IA is an alternative to the company’s standard S3 offering and its Glacier service. Amazon’s three storage offerings now include: S3 for fast access to data; S3 IA, which is less expensive than S3 with a slight tradeoff in availability; and Glacier, which offers even less expensive prices, with high availability but the tradeoff of long latency for retrievals.
AWS says customers can migrate data from one service to another based on how frequently they need to access the data. S3 starts at $0.03/GB/month while IA starts at $0.0125/GB/month with 99% availability, and Glacier starts at $0.007/GB/month. When announcing IA, AWS also dropped the price of Glacier from $0.01 to $0.007 GB/month.
AWS also has a series of Elastic Block Storage (EBS) services meant to provide persistent block-level storage for its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) virtual machines.
The introduction of S3 IA could be in response to Google announcing its own new storage service meant for archiving data named Nearline earlier this year. Nearline starts at $0.01 per GB/month.
The moves represent public IaaS cloud vendors continuing to innovate their platforms, compete on services against their top competitors, and giving customers more reason than ever to not store their data on-premises. Read more about the announcement in the AWS blog post.


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Japan has been a leader in technology and innovation for decades. However, with ever-growing competition from Silicon Valley and China, the Olympics is being seen as a platform for the country to showcase its prowess.
The world of sports is no stranger to the use of technology and now it has significantly changed sports’ biggest stage, the Olympic. The Tokyo Olympic Games may have been delayed by a year but technological innovations accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic promise to make the event more immersive by bringing athletes closer to an even wider fan base. Let’s have a look at how technology is powering Tokyo Olympics 2020…
3D Digital Twinning
3D Digital Twinning coupled with cloud-rendering technology makes it possible to simulate tracks, camera deployments, stadium seating, and in-stadium navigation services through 5G-powered VR for the benefit of athletes, broadcasters, spectators, and venue owners. Intel’s 3D digital twinning technology also creates a virtual replica of stadiums that helps athletes prepare better for their races.
Just ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the organising committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled four new futuristic robots which will be deployed to assist spectators, athletes, and officials at competition venues and to relay sound, images, and physical feedback from venues to those watching remotely. Tokyo 2020 Mascot type robots will welcome athletes and guests at the game’s venues and other related locations with human-like movements such as shaking hands and waving, and with a variety of facial expressions. With the COVID-19 outbreak, robots have become hugely important because they enable remote operation and allow humans to avoid direct contact in high-risk situations.
Motion-tracking Wearable Tech
Wearable technology in particular has been one of the more recent tools in the Olympic arsenal. Wearable fitness and motion trackers have been around since before the 2012 London games, but improvements in tracking and analytic software have turned simple trackers into a now integral part of training for many Olympic athletes. One of the key benefits of wearable tech is its ability to provide information that wasn’t previously available. In Tokyo, Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group and US chip maker Intel partnered to run a 3D athlete tracking system that allows coaches to probe into every minute movement of their Olympic athletes. Coaches can tweak training methods of players based on the real-time data provided by the system.
Alibaba Cloud has partnered with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to enable the global audiences to watch the grand event via the cloud. The cloud broadcasting solution boosts efficiencies lost through offline and labor-based production while cutting costs significantly. In addition, OBS will provide 3D athlete tracking technology, which enables viewers to see each athlete’s real-time running speed, and offers analysis of the different stages of the race in detail.
The organizing committee and athletes have turned to 3D printing to realize environmental recycle and gain a competitive edge. China’s Anta Sports has produced 3D-printed shoes for the boxing team that it said offered better protection and fit. The brand’s anti grab technology of fabric employed for wrestling is expected to reduce the likelihood of being grasped by the opponent. In another use of 3D printing, Procter & Gamble (P&G) in partnership with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and the International Olympics Committee unveiled 3D printed podiums for the games’ award ceremonies. Built out of plastic recycled from over 2,000 Japanese locations, and featuring an Olympic logo made from repurposed aluminium, the podiums will be used throughout both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. P&G plans the plastic to be recycled again, living their third life as P&G product packaging.
Virtual Olympic Festival
COVID-19 restrictions have made a physical gathering impossible this year and this is where Virtual Reality (VR) comes in. Just four days before the official opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games about 850,000 people logged in to watch an online festival taking place in a virtual Olympic stadium. Children from around the world were invited to submit artwork to be shown during the live event. Further, the Virtual Arenas are helping to offer an immersive training environment for staff, improving the effectiveness and reducing costs.
Facial recognition has grown by leaps and bounds in the recent years, thanks to neural networks. It’s the first time the Olympics have used that facial recognition technology. Intel has teamed up with NEC on a system that can identify 300,000 people–including athletes, volunteers, staff, and members of the media–at venues and accommodation. The objective speed up ID checks for accredited people and reduce waiting time.
5G to Power-up Fan Experiences
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) in cooperation with Intel Corporation, Nippon Telegraph, and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and NTT DOCOMO, Inc., will be showcasing innovative sports viewing experiences deploying the very latest 5G technology at three competition venues during the Tokyo 2020 Games. This includes broadcasts of ultra-high resolution videos and simultaneous multipoint videos leveraging the high-speed and capacity offered by 5G technology, as well as an AR experience that takes advantage of 5G’s low latency.
Technology will not only play a pre-eminent role for the viewers but also the athletes. It will allow not only for social distancing but enhanced digital interaction. With an increase in wearables and better tracking software, the big data will play a much larger role in Tokyo 2020 as well as other sporting events. The innovations accelerated by the global pandemic will give us the chance to experience the games like never before. These innovations will also trickle down to other sporting experiences in the years to come.


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In 2023, experiences will be the driving force behind commerce decisions. Leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) along with granular data will enable companies to hyper personalize their product and experience offerings.
In this interview with Daniela Ciocan, CEO of Access Beauty Insiders and Unfiltered Experience, we get a glimpse into the brands that are leading the charge and how hyper personalized beauty is becoming the new norm.
Personalization of products from skincare to cosmetics to subscription boxes is growing rapidly, what are brands doing to create a more personalized experience and greater connection with their customers?
We continue to see personalization of product across beauty – for skincare, makeup, haircare, ingestibles and vitamins but also in terms of connecting with consumers for a better shopping experience.
Shoppable UGC featuring authentic video testimonials and reviews is seeing an evolution whereby the content served is customized and delivered based on the shopper’s own skin tone, skin type, hair color, etc to give social proof that products work for them as developed by Hue.
Opulus Beauty Labs, the brainchild of Clarisonic founder Dr Robb Akridge brings the science of manufacturing freshly made cosmetics in blends featuring actives and proper dosage personalized right at the time of application. The luxury devices create individual fresh potent dose of product without bottles or jars that need discarding.
Allel Skincare out of Sweden is developing personalized beauty products from consumer’s DNA coupled with blood biology to find key drivers for individual skin and aging creating scientific products to expertly match their profile
For those seeking medical grade freshly compounded personalized skincare products normally found at a dermatologist’s office, there’s Musely; after a live online skin consultation with a dermatologist, a prescription for medical grade products is issued to a team of pharmacists who compound formulas packed with actives and ship them directly to over 400,000 real life patients.
Personalization in hair care through online questionnaires that gauge consumer’s hair texture, health, scent preference and goals delivers unique products from companies like AURA HairCare or Prose Haircare.
How will AR and VR disrupt the beauty experience in 2023?
The Metaverse is an attractive medium for beauty brands who have the budgets to engage and build a loyal consumer base. Several beauty brands have used this new medium include Valde Beauty and L’Oreal who most recently partnered with metaverse avatar platform Reda Player Me to personalize looks using Maybelline New York and L’oreal Professionnel makeup and hairstyles.
Adoption of AR will continue to become more widespread online as well as in-stores allowing for not only accurate product recommendation but for post follow-ups to assess adjustments to skin regimens as well as to showcase improvement.
The next wave of AR will move from the use of static pictures to video analysis such as the one being pioneered by Estonian company Haut.AI to allow for more accurate readings of things like acne lesions that are not flat surfaces.
VR technology allows brands to create immersive shopping store fronts online where exploration can be done individually or with a group of friends mimicking real life shopping experiences. Integration of AR allows for product try-ons for a full-on experience all from the comfort of one’s home. Such technology can be used for bringing to life pop-ups around a specific holiday or a new product launch and allow for customers to engage with the brand regardless of geographic location.
Smaller emerging brands can combine resources to create online pop-up experiences and shops together that create more brand awareness and engagement as currently VR technology has been mainly available to major players.
Who are the key players helping with creating greater personalization?
Innovative retailers are integrating AR and AI into stores to allow for greater personalization. Sephora debuted its first Store of the Future in Singapore whereby shoppers get skincare recommendations through Skincredible app, a dermatologist-grade skin analysis software and can scan items to access over 1+ million consumer reviews as well as use mobile checkouts for a unique experiential shopping journey.
On the mass side, CVS has upgraded their front-end beauty departments with 3 locations getting an elevated SKIN CARE CENTER new format as a test phase. Onsite skin diagnostic tools help consumers assess their unique skin needs and identifies customized skin solutions by leveraging advanced LED technology from SkinScope and ModiFace’s Derm Skin analyzer. On a larger scale a new partnership with REVIEVE offers skin diagnostic and makeup virtual try-ons in 600 stores across the country.
How is the beauty industry using data, AI and analytics to inform product development?
Computer engineers and scientists are coming together to generate breakthroughs and innovation at a higher rate than ever before both from ingredient and formula development aspects.
AI powered fragrance creation is a reality through a collaboration between IBM & Symrise for Philyra, which uses continuous learning and feedback to refine fragrances it creates based on a library of 3.5 million legacy formulas, access to 2000 raw materials in 20 dimensions.
On the ingredient side, a new generation of computer experts are pairing science and molecular biology with powerful artificial intelligence to uncover natural ingredients like bioactive peptides in plants. Big-data technology is also being used to reverse-engineer ingredients that are harder to harvest or harm natural ecosystems.
As a most recent example, Harvard scientists used AI to find new molecules that get to the root of hair loss and target hair-follicle health, and they identified ProCelinyl™ as a clear winner which provided improvement generating thicker healthier looking hair in 97% of clinical trial participants for REVELA Hair Revival Serum product.
About Daniela Ciocan:
Daniela Ciocan is the Founder/ CEO of Access Beauty Insiders, a specialized firm with a proven 360-marketing approach targeting working with direct-to-consumer brands looking to scale quickly. Quoted in national media outlets such as VICE, Forbes, and NewBeauty, she most recently created UNFILTERED EXPERIENCE, a new beauty event, winner of BIZBASH BEST INFLUENCER EVENT 2019/2020. A two-time winner of Trade Show Executive’s “Marketing Genius Award”, Daniela is credited with growing Cosmoprof North America from infancy into one of the most awarded exhibitions in the country, continuously listed as one of America’s “50 Fastest Growing” and “Top 100 Gold Shows” by Trade Show Executive and TSNN. Representatives from retailers like Amazon, Target, Neiman Marcus, QVC, and Nordstrom referenced “Businesswoman of the Year” and “Female Executive of the Year” (Women World Awards) winner Daniela to find “the next big thing” in beauty. Instagram @danielamciocan
Check out more with Daniela, The Evolution of the Beauty Industry, How Brands and Retailers Can Thrive.


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Modern mums, millennials and quintastics behind Europe’s SUV Boom
A new Ford study has revealed that since 2005, sales of SUVs have quadrupled and this is expected to continue as the vehicles grow in popularity with a diverse group of buyers.
SUVs are no longer a popular choice with a select few as the study from Ford highlighted that modern mums (mothers with young kids), millennials (17 to 34-year-olds) and quintastics (active and youthful 50-somethings) have all begun to purchase models of SUVs.
This has undoubtedly been helped with the release of a number of new SUVs and will continue as more are set to be released in the near future, such as the new Ford Edge, which will be sold in Ford car dealers in Taunton and across the rest of the UK later this year.
SUVs embraced by different consumers
The study from Ford surveyed 5,000 people in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany, and discovered new consumers are being attracted by SUVs.
The study found almost one in three modern mums are now considering purchasing an SUV as their next vehicle, whilst one in four millennials and one in five quintastics are also thinking about buying an SUV as their next car.
Perceptions of SUVs have also changed, according to the study, with 82 per cent of those surveyed saying SUVs are not a luxury vehicle anymore and have become more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient over the last five years.
Safety was another reason why so many consumers are deciding to buy SUVs. The survey found 82 per cent of respondents said keeping their family safe has become more important and 52 per cent highlighted this feature as being most associated with SUVs. Performing in bad weather (78 per cent) was another important aspect of choosing a vehicle and 57 per cent identify this feature most with SUVs.
The most likely people to buy an SUV as their next vehicle were consumers in Italy (31 per cent) and the UK (28 per cent).
Speaking to the Ford Motor Company Media Center, Roelant de Waard, who is the vice president of Marketing, Sales & Service for Ford of Europe, said, “SUVs have grown from a tiny niche in Europe to one of the most significant automotive trends of the past decade.
“Our range of three SUVs, with the upscale all-new Edge, arriving in dealerships across Europe now to complement our mid-sized Kuga and compact EcoSport, offers a wide variety of personal choice.
“We predict sales of 200,000 Ford SUVs in Europe this year, up by 200 per cent from 2013.”
Image Credit: Daniel Oines (flickr.com)


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East AfricaCom will return to Nairobi this 6th -7th May showcasing the innovators and business leaders that are creating the next phase of the digital ecosystem.
Download the 2015 brochure to take a look at the brand new topics, speakers, networking opportunities and exciting new features on offer, including the CIO Forum and the Entrepreneur Hub!
A key segment of the digital and telecoms ecosystem are the innovators taking lead on their own projects and companies to address some of the markets biggest needs. The Entrepreneur’s Hub pays homage to the start-up community by fostering business skills support, mentorship and investment.
- The Angel Investor’s Panel featuring a live pitch process at the event from a shortlisted top 5 entrepreneurs and SMEs – the winners receive a cash prize for their projects or companies
- Secondly, a mentorship scheme facilitated by Informa whereby entrepreneurs and SMEs with specific requirements for skills development and business guidance are paired with the industry’s leading telco and digital giants offering vital business knowhow back to the community
For more information on this year's Hub and to register, please contact:
T: +44 20 7017 5610


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Saudi Arabia will see Apple fans rejoicing as Apple receives the license to operate by the SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority). According to a local news report Apple has been given clearance to fully function in the region with the subsidiary name as “Apple, Saudi Arabia.” The license will allow Apple to market, maintain and develop products in the geography.
According to a filing with the SEC, Apple has renewed exclusive rights to utilize Liquidmetal Technologies metal alloys in consumer electronics items under the MTA.
The license was initially purchased in 2010 with an expiry in February 2014. The current renewal will lengthen the agreement through February of 2015.


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'Heart of Asia Pin' Created
'Heart of Asia Pin' Created to Help Fund Tsunami Recovery & Rebuilding Efforts
AUCKLAND, Jan 27
All proceeds will go to the Red Cross Tsunami Appeal
All New Zealanders have been deeply touched and moved by this unprecedented tragedy. In response, Avon has made an immediate corporate contribution of $750,000 to the Tsunami Appeal towards the recovery and rebuilding efforts in the region. But we want to do more.
Aid workers are working frantically to help the millions of displaced and grief-stricken people whose lives have been transformed beyond imagination. Their efforts have only just begun.
Help for now. Hope for the future. Just as Avon Representatives in New Zealand have generously supported the breast cancer cause through the sale of specially designed Pink Ribbon products, so they are getting behind this cause by selling the Heart of Asia Pin for $3.99 each, without any profit or commission.
Avon Representatives will deliver leaflets advertising the pin to millions of homes around the country. Avon would like to thank Offset Alpine, Australian Paper and Spicers Paper for donating the printing and paper costs.
Readers who would like to buy the Heart of Asia Pin, but who don’t have an Avon Representative, can purchase one by visiting www.avon.co.nz or calling 0800 232 889. All proceeds will be donated to the New Zealand Red Cross Tsunami Appeal.


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Technology company NVIDIA announces that it has canceled its plans to acquire semiconductor company Arm. NVIDIA and SoftBank revealed this new development that provided much clarity on this matter.
Earlier, NVIDIA planned to acquire Arm from SoftBank Group through an acquisition deal worth $40 billion. However, reports surfaced earlier this month pointing towards this outcome as NVIDIA was unable to get approval for the deal.
Despite their best efforts, the parties agreed to terminate the agreement due to significant regulatory difficulties preventing the transaction from completion. As previous speculations materialize, SoftBank is preparing for Arm’s initial public offering.
Founder and CEO of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang, said, “Arm is at the center of the important dynamics in computing. Though we won’t be one company, we will partner closely with Arm. The significant investments that Masa has made have positioned Arm to expand the reach of the Arm CPU beyond client computing to supercomputing, cloud, AI, and robotics.”
He further added that Arm has a great future ahead of them, and NVIDIA will continue to support them as a proud licensee for many years to come. SoftBank, in a statement, mentioned that the deposit worth $1.25 billion paid by NVIDIA is non-refundable according to the signed agreement. Therefore the amount will be recognized as profit in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.
SoftBank believes Arm’s technology and intellectual property will remain at the forefront of mobile computing and artificial intelligence development.
“Arm is becoming a center of innovation not only in the mobile phone revolution, but also in cloud computing, automotive, the Internet of Things and the metaverse, and has entered its second growth phase,” said Representative Director, Corporate Officer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SoftBank Group, Masayoshi Son.
He also mentioned that he wishes Jensen and his excellent team at NVIDIA all the best in their future endeavors.


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Sony Ericsson and Nokia are on the list.
Sony Ericsson: “There have been rumors that Sony will take over the operation, rebrand the handsets with its name”
Nokia: “Microsoft, which is Nokia’s primary software partner, could easily buy the company and is often mentioned as a suitor.”
Sony Ericsson is literally across the street, so I shouldn’t speculate too much on what might happen.
I don’t see Microsoft acquiring Nokia as a good solution, considering how unsuccessful and outright ignorant and arrogant Microsoft has been in the mobile field, but it’s maybe the only solution for the long term, if Nokia can retain control.
Actually Nokia is almost also across the street, in Copenhagen, but they are closing that facility down now.


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Nepal Oil Corporation has hiked the prices of petroleum products on Friday morning. NOC has increased the price of petrol by Rs. 10, diesel by Rs. 6 and kerosene by Rs. 6 per litre.
A meeting of the corporation’s board today morning made the decision.
“The corporation is reeling under loses,” said Sagar Satyal, officiating managing director of NOC. “It was necessary to increase the prices.”
The previous selling prices per litre was Rs.130 for petrol, Rs. 103 for diesel and Rs.103 for kerosene. At this rate, NOC was profiting Rs. 2.82 from petrol and Rs. 5.67 from kerosene. But was suffering a loss of Rs. 10.30 in diesel.
Now, petrol will sell for Rs. 140, diesel for Rs. 109 and kerosene for Rs. 109.
NOC suffers heaviest loss in LPG cylinders. At a selling price of Rs. 1470 per cylinder NOC bears a loss of Rs. 864.92. The corporation has implemented a rule of dual coloured LPG cylinders for households and commercial use and plans to differentiate the prices according to offset the loss. -Nepalnews.com


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brussels - Consumer organizations in Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain are going to file mass claims against Facebook in their country following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. They demand at least 200 euros per user in collective lawsuits for privacy reasons.
The data of more than 87 million Facebook users, including several million Europeans, were shared with Cambridge Analytica without their consent, according to the consumer clubs. Because the law was violated, the group claim in the four countries is filed on behalf of all users.
A correct remuneration for the use of the private data is in order, reports the Belgian Test-Aankoop. 'If their data are used illegally, they must be compensated. The apologies of Mark Zuckerberg are not enough. Consumers are not puppets with which Facebook can do what it wants. Meanwhile, this scandal seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. '
The € 200 demanded is a 'minimal estimate of the damage suffered by Facebook users', according to Test-Aankoop.
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I still remember how aghast my dad was when the Nike Swoosh became prominently displayed on apparel. “I can’t believe people are paying money to be walking advertisements!” he said in disbelief, “Nike should be paying them!”
No one bats an eye at such branding any longer. A brand stands not just for the product itself, it is a social signal, marketing not just the company, but the consumer.[i]
“Nowadays you shouldn’t have a company that is not contributing in some fashion or form or sense to a cause, because the people today who buy a product, they want to know what you have done for somebody else lately,”[ii] Fubu’s Daymond John reflected on his experience investing through Shark Tank.


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Huawei P40 Lite 5G is the latest device to launch in the company’s smartphone portfolio. The new model has launched in Europe and is different from the Huawei P40 Lite mobile. This new Huawei P40 Lite 5G comes with the Kirin 820 octa-core 5G processor and a different quad-camera setup at the back. The Huawei P40 Lite 5G looks to be the rebranded variant of the Huawei Nova 7 SE 5G launched in China last month.
Huawei Nova P40 Lite 5G Price
The Huawei P40 Lite 5G mobile priced at EUR 399 (roughly Rs 32,800) in Europe. The new Huawei phone is up for pre-order and sales will begin on May 28. It comes in Midnight Black, Space Silver, and Crush Green color options. According to the Huawei listing, pre-order customers will get a free Huawei FreeBuds 3i accessory.
The phone looks to be a rebadged version of the Huawei Nova 7 SE 5G that was announced in China last month. It is different from the new Huawei P40 model launched in Europe in February. This model is priced at EUR 299 (roughly Rs. 23,300) only.
Huawei Nova P40 Lite 5G Specifications
The dual-SIM Huawei P40 Lite 5G runs on EMUI 10.1, based on Android 10. It features a 6.5-inch full-HD+ (1080×2400 pixels) LCD hole-punch display and powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 820 5G octa-core SoC with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage options. There is an option to expand storage further up to 256GB using a Nano Memory SD card.
The camera setup on the Huawei P40 Lite 5G features a quad rear camera setup with is aligned vertically and placed on the top left corner of the panel. This setup includes a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. It has a 16MP selfie camera.
The Huawei P40 Lite 5G sports a 4,000mAh battery with 40W SuperCharge fast charging support. Connectivity options include 5G SA/NSA, 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.1, NFC, USB Type-C port, and more. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, measures 162.31×75.0x8.58mm, and the Huawei P40 Lite 5G weighs at 189 grams. Users can stay in touch with our web portal for the latest technology updates around the world.


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Outdoor specialist Kathmandu is targeting major growth in Europe and the US with the company saying Tuesday that its two brands have “significant” growth potential outside its core Australia and New Zealand markets.
Sports Direct said on Monday that any suggestion that it wants to block the potential sale of Debenhams' Magasin du Nord was “irresponsible and incorrect” as it denied claims that it wants the chain to collapse.
Boohoo Group has announced a new CEO from rival Primark with current co-CEO Carol Kane set to stand down as part of a board re-alignment. But Kane will remain heavily involved with company and will take on a new role.
H&M has consistently disappointed in recent periods. But the retail giant seems to have turned its fortunes around in Q3 saying it saw higher local-currency sales growth than anyone had expected for the summer quarter.


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Little Luxuries: A Surprising Demand Trend Impacting Category Managers
As I noted in my last blog, record inflation continues to be a significant concern for retailers — because it’s having an enormous and complicated impact on consumer behaviors. Even worse news for retailers? Stressed-out shoppers perceive inflation rates as higher than they actually are. In a recent survey, consumers believed that the annual inflation rate was 17.7%, more than double the actual number. When customers fear inflation, inflation grows.
We’ve seen inflation, and consumers’ fears surrounding it, fuel increased demand for private-label products and other value-driven behaviors. But, an interesting and unexpected trend is also happening: Sales of luxury products are taking off. Cartier’s fourth-quarter 2021 sales are up 30% over the previous year, and Prada’s revenues are 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels. But this isn’t a trend that only impacts the wealthy or traditional luxury brands. Most of us aren’t contemplating buying a luxury car or vacation home, but inflation-influenced buying behavior is impacting the typical retail shopper in smaller ways.
With substantial price increases on everything from gasoline, groceries and utilities to clothing, real estate and vehicles, many customers are worried about staying on track financially. People are cutting back on big expenditures like family vacations to save money and instead buying smaller, less expensive indulgences more often. Being hesitant to spend on travel or dine at a restaurant, consumers instead are “treating themselves” at the grocery store by choosing a more expensive bottle of wine, a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers instead. The majority of pet owners (62%) choose to cut back on other expenses to spend money spoiling their pets.
I call this trend “little luxuries” — and it’s one that every category manager needs to understand so they can manage it proactively. While many consumers are turning to coupons, private labels and everyday low pricing due to inflation, there are just as many shoppers having an “I deserve this” moments as they reach for a premium ice cream brand or an upscale lipstick while shopping. Sometimes, you’ll see the same customer during the same shopping trip switching to private-label snack crackers while picking up a more expensive or exclusive brand of cheese, or selecting store brand milk for themselves while grabbing locally-produced organic treats for their dog.
So, what does this mean for retailers and CPG manufacturers? How can category managers sort out and address these conflicting trends in buying behavior? As with nearly everything in life, knowledge is power. Blue Yonder’s smart category management capabilities help retailers notice upticks in luxury product sales at the earliest opportunity, then respond with precise updates for every store location — whether that means changing assortments to add in additional products or modify space and floor plans to adjust facings of existing products.
Enabled by machine learning (ML), Blue Yonder helps retailers pick up on trends as soon as they happen, even if these trends are unexpected, such as in the case of little luxuries. As soon as a change is identified, specific, targeted and localized adjustments can be sent down to impacted stores so they can maximize the opportunity. One store might receive new space plans, another may receive a selection of higher-priced goods to work into the assortment; based upon local buying behavior. Store clustering and planogram automation makes it easy and efficient to manage and deploy these individual updates without burdening corporate planners or store employees.
During the pandemic, both retailers and CPG manufacturers pared down their assortments to minimize risk and keep essential products in stock. Now, as little luxury shopping is beginning to expand, there’s an opportunity to broaden assortments and reintroduce some of these more unique items, or add higher-margin items into the mix to maximize profit potential. But without the insights to identify an uptick in these unexpected items, retailers might keep their assortments minimal and only focus on expanding private label. They might miss this opportunity altogether.
Blue Yonder’s category management dynamic insights continuously monitors luxury-driven purchasing behaviors
As we’ve heard over and over, we are truly living in unprecedented times. Retailers must simultaneously satisfy value-seeking consumers and luxury-oriented shoppers. Blue Yonder helps them do both with confidence and precision. By understanding exactly who is shopping their stores and what is motivating them, retailers can successfully engage with these consumers and offer exactly what they’re looking for — driving higher sales and margins, even in a retail environment that continues to surprise us.


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Qualcomm disagrees with decision by Taiwan Fair Trade Commission and intends to seek a stay and appeal the decision
Oct 12, 2017
OCT 11, 2017 | SAN DIEGO
Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM) today announced that the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (TFTC) has reached a decision in the TFTC's investigation, stating in a press release that certain of the Company's business practices are in violation of Taiwanese competition law and imposing a fine of approximately $23.4 billion Taiwan dollars (approximately $773 million US dollars at current exchange rates). Qualcomm disagrees with the decision summarized in the TFTCâs press release and intends to seek to stay any required behavioral measures and appeal the decision to the Taiwanese courts after receiving the TFTCâs formal decision, which is expected in the next several weeks. The fine bears no rational relationship to the amount of Qualcomm's revenues or activities in Taiwan, and Qualcomm will appeal the amount of the fine and the method used to calculate it.
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Today Apple has released macOS Mojave 10.14.6 Supplemental update to fix a software issue. Apple had released the macOS Mojave 10.14.6 last month and the update addressed a few bugs and stability issues.
The supplemental update is meant to address an issue on macOS Mojave that is blocking certain Macs from waking up after putting into sleep mode. Despite being classified as a minor bug, it is still capable of stopping your Mac when it tries to wake up from sleep mode. Meanwhile, Apple advises all the macOS Mojave 10.14.6 users to install the update on their Mac.
The macOS Mojave 10.14.6 Supplemental Update fixes an issue that may prevent certain Macs from waking from sleep properly.
If you are a registered developer, update macOS Mojave beta by heading over to System Preferences app> Software update and follow the instructions. macOS Mojave 10.14.6 is likely to be the last update to macOS Mojave as Apple will soon move on to macOS Catalina.
Meanwhile, the latest macOS Catalina features a new Apple Music App, Podcasts app and Apple TV app that comes in as a replacement for iTunes. iTunes is being slowly phased out in favor of new, separate services. Furthermore, it also comes equipped with a Sidecar feature that will allow you to use an iPad as a secondary screen. The macOS Catalina Public launch is expected to happen by the end of September.
Did you ever encounter the wake from sleep issue on your Mac? Let us know in the comments below.


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Shares in Rothmans International, owner of 57 per cent of Dunhill, immediately dipped 11p to 608p on news of the 7 per cent fall in pre-tax profits to pounds 70.7m from the owner of the Alfred Dunhill, Montblanc, Chole, Hackett and Karl Lagerfeld brand names.
One consolation for Rothmans is an increase in Dunhill's final dividend from 4.95p to 5.25p, lifting the total payout by 6 per cent to 8.15p.
Lord Douro, chairman of Dunhill, warned: 'Trading in recent months indicates that unless major economies improve in the near future it is unlikely that the group will be able to sustain operating profit in the current year.'
He added: 'A number of countries are not looking as prosperous as before, and events are undoubtedly catching up on us. We have managed to get through two to three difficult years, and only now do we feel it necessary to be cautious.'
Operating profits for the year to 31 March were flat at pounds 55.5m, attained on sales and royalties ahead from pounds 254m to pounds 327m. The pre-tax result was hit by a pounds 5m fall in investment income to pounds 15m.
The Far Eastern markets, particularly Japan, have generated the biggest headaches, with consumer spending on luxury goods showing a substantial downturn.
Prices in Japan have also had to be cut to compensate for the strength of the yen. About 45 per cent of Dunhill's sales are made in the Far East.
Trading conditions in Germany, the home market for the group's Montblanc pens, Italy, and Spain have also deteriorated. Against that, Lord Douro said, there have been only 'very hesitant recoveries in the US and UK'.
Profits were also squeezed by very heavy investment on bolstering distribution operations. Dunhill controls more than 80 per cent of its distribution channels, and will soon top that figure up with a small purchase.
Acquisitions, notably last June's pounds 16m takeover of the Karl Lagerfeld fashion brand, contributed pounds 4m of profits from pounds 35m of sales. They were also responsible for most of the reduction in the group's cash pile from nearly pounds 180m to just under pounds 120m.
Dunhill, however, has no current plans to hit the acquisition trail and denied recent rumours that it was interested in buying Gucci.
'I think we've made the business stronger, and done what has had to be done. We have had no discussions with Gucci, and nor do we intend to have any,' Lord Douro said.
About pounds 17m of the increase in group sales came from exchange movements, although the effect on profits was neutralised by forward currency hedging, which will help this year's figures.Reuse content


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Blog: Moral Maze tackles junk food
Catherine Sleep | 17 July 2003
I only caught the tail end of the debate, but it is to be repeated this coming Saturday on Radio 4 at 10.15 pm. For readers who prefer to listen on the Internet, the programme will be available for one week via the Moral Maze web page.
Prepare to hear combative discussion and strident views on all sides.
Ask any FMCG executive to list the trends shaking up the sector and digital and e-commerce will be pretty high on the list. Drill down into that and Amazon will be one of the subjects in the digital s...
Since Theresa May took over as UK Prime Minister in the wake of the country's referendum vote to quit the European Union, she and her ministers have been at pains not to divulge their negotiating posi...
Greenpeace's long-running campaign against UK tuna brand John West, owned by seafood giant Thai Union, is now directing its fire against Sainsbury's....
- The key questions for digital strategists in 2017
- Unilever 2016 investor day - the top takeaways
- Wessanen's move for Spain's Biogran - analysis
- Burger King, Jollibee: foodservice focus, Nov 2016
- Have food promotions reached tipping point?
- General Mills jobs to go in business revamp
- Verlinvest, China Resources invest in Oatly
- B&G acquires pasta sauce group Victoria Fine Foods
- Tyson sets up US$150m investment fund
- Japan's Nagatanien buys Chaucer Food Group


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The minimalist beauty brand launched by Who What Wear co-founder Katherine Power earlier this year has announced that it has completed a $20 million Series A funding round led by LVMH-backed L Catterton.
In January, the US subsidiary of cosmetics group L’Occitane filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a prelude to restructuring L'Occitane en Provence’s business, a reorganisation that has recently been completed.
Due to the pandemic, L’Occitane has had to restructure. But thanks to e-tail and China, the multinational beauty group has proven resilient, and hopes this dark period will foster more responsible business practices.
John Lewis unveils its revamped Edinburgh store on Friday after a major refurbishment. The focus is on making the store a must-visit destination, with experiences and expertise that can’t be replicated online.


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Fintech startup, Curlec by Razorpay has announced its latest offering, Curlec Payment Gateway that aims to serve more than 5,000 businesses with a target of RM10 billion in annualised Gross Transaction by 2025.
In leveraging Razorpay India’s industry-first solutions and its extensive experience working with multiple sectors, Curlec intends to incorporate the same technology that has proven to be successful in the Indian market.
“We recognise the power of payments in Malaysia and what it means for businesses of all sizes, regardless of sector. Our extensive experience operating in India’s diverse and dynamic market has prepared us to pursue growth on a global scale. When we joined forces with Curlec a year ago, our vision was to build products that cater to the needs of Southeast Asian users. The unveiling of the new Curlec Payment Gateway today is a first step in that direction,” said Shashank Kumar, Managing Director & Co-founder, Razorpay.
“With the launch of the Curlec Payment Gateway, we are now a full-stack payment solutions provider, having combined the expertise of both Curlec and Razorpay India.
We hope to build on our recent significant traction, notably in insurance, lending, and savings, where we tracked a 110% increase in transaction volumes. With Curlec providing an unrivalled payment experience for our customers, we are targeting 10X growth by 2025,” said Zac Liew, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Curlec by Razorpay.
“Driven by the goal of simplifying payments for Malaysian startups and enterprises, Curlec will continue to build a stronger focus on customer needs, and the new payment gateway will help Malaysian businesses scale seamlessly with industry-first solutions and uncompromised support,” he added.


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Cleveland Dupli-Color announces its Restoration Challenge: Generation Next, a unique contest for automotive vocational school and high school students to compete for the chance to win thousands of dollars in retailer merchandise and scholarships.
Through June 24, 2011, teams may submit proposals for fall auto projects using at least ten different Dupli-Color products. Three teams will then be chosen to participate in the Restoration Challenge based on their creativity, detail, feasibility and product use.
Each team selected will receive enough Dupli-Color products to complete the projects, as well as $5,000 toward supplies from one of three retail sponsors: Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Pep Boys.
In September, the competing teams will begin to document the projects and post updates on Facebook, where fans can vote each week for their favorite project.
In November 2011, the team with the most votes will be named the Grand Prize winner. Each member of the winning team will receive a $10,000 scholarship to Ohio Technical College, along with a celebratory party hosted by DJ Funkmaster Flex, host of MTV’s Funk Flex Full Throttle. Each member of the second place team will receive $7,500 to Ohio Technical College, and third place winners will receive $5,000 scholarships.
DupliColor is hosting the contest following the success of last year’s Restoration Challenge, which encouraged auto enthusiasts to enter and vote for their DIY projects on Facebook. This year, the company hopes to engage students and allow them explore their creativity.
“This was an opportunity for Dupli-Color to reach out to the young people who are interested in automotive restoration, and to help familiarize them with our product offerings,” says Fred Hunt, Director of Product Development, Dupli-Color. “We wanted to give students the opportunity to learn and demonstrate their skills. And all winners will receive scholarships, so they have the option to take their educations even further. It’s a great benefit to everyone involved.”
To enter a class for Restoration Challenge: Generation Next, a teacher or administrator must submit a proposal on Dupli-Color’s Facebook page or www.restogennext.com. Only one entry per school will be considered valid. For a full listing of entry requirements, rules and regulations, visit www.facebook.com/Duplicolor.


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Japanese prosecutors are said to be preparing to arrest Carlos Ghosn over accusations that he underreported his salary by millions of dollars.
As new fields demanded huge computing power, top chip manufacturers seemed invulnerable. Now shrinking sales suggest they’re still highly vulnerable.
By Robert Cyran
Officials at the Federal Reserve are becoming more mindful of a slowing global economy.
By Peter Eavis
Uber retreated from many towns in Germany in 2015 after battling regulators. Now the ride-hailing company has re-entered the city of Düsseldorf.
By Adam Satariano
A longtime Goldman Sachs banker now helps oversee the Chinese e-commerce behemoth.
By David Gelles
The company’s bonds fell sharply this week, which, along with rising interest rates and slowing growth, should raise red flags for credit investors.
The best sign that investors have had enough of the United Kingdom would be when both its currency and bonds weaken at the same time.
By Swaha Pattanaik
Columns and articles from the founder of DealBook.


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Capcom has given the axe to yet another Mega Man project. Following in the footsteps of Mega Man Legends 3 and Mega Man Universe, Mega Man Online, an online game set to take place in the Mega Man X universe, has been cancelled. A spokesman for Neowiz, the company working on the game for Capcom, released a statement saying,
“Both companies have continually discussed to find agreeable points on quality, development time, communication and etc. Ultimately, both companies have agreed to stop the development of Rock Man Online last early November.”
This shouldn’t really affect US gamers too much, because the project was unlikely to leave its homeland of South Korea, but considering Mega Man’s struggles, it’s not good to hear about a cancelled project.


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Chris Yarrow has had an eye for cars his entire life, and that’s no exaggeration. “I was born on the front seat of a 1957 Lincoln,” he says with a laugh. “And I’m 57 now, so I’ve been interested in cars for 57 years.”
It’s a lifelong passion that’s led him to develop an eye for good cars. Particularly passionate about American classic cars and British sports cars, Yarrow says while his experience may be limited to a narrower cross-section of automobiles, he knows exactly what he’s looking for as a judge.
“I have very fine taste. I can tell original from reproduction, and I know what I’m looking at.”
Yarrow, with Rudi Koniczek of Rudi & Company, organized the Deep Cove Chalet Concours d’Elegance in the late ’80s and early ’90s, showcasing many special interest cars.
“We were well tuned in to what a restoration was like, and how to do it, and what to look for.”
Yarrow’s own personal collection includes several gems in the automotive world, including a 1956 Austin Healy, and a 1930 Packard that just brought home the Senior Judge’s Award from the Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance last month.
“It’s an original Victoria car, and it’s a very interesting story,” says Yarrow of the Packard. Bought brand new by Yarrow’s grandfather in 1930, the car left the family seven years later, traded in for a smaller model. It had the honour of carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the first royal visit to Victoria in 1939, and passed through the hands of several car enthusiasts.
Yarrow tracked it down and eventually brought it back into the family in 1989. Since then, he’s fully restored its beauty.
“I appreciate how much work it is to restore a car, because I’ve done it,” he says. I look forward to seeing the amazing vehicles at this year’s show.


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Best Educational Product
We have won!
We are thrilled and proud to announce that we have been awarded Best Educational Product at the British Youth Travel Awards in recognition of the delivery of our First World War Centenary Battlefields Tours Programme that we run alongside the Institute of Education.
The awards ceremony was held on the 4th of December at Westfield London, and were coordinated by BETA, the British Educational Travel Association who is the body representing suppliers of education, youth and student related travel products.
Equity (Inspiring Learning) CEO, John Bentley said “We are thrilled to win the prestigious Best Educational Product category and are proud that the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme is part of the official centenary acts of remembrance. A large team of people at Equity, Kingswood and our partners at the Institute of Education have worked very hard to create an experience which is innovative, grounded in pedagogical best practice and which benefits both students and teachers.”
"This is a great way to end our first year with our new name, Equity. We have invested heavily in service delivery and product development right across our Ski, Sport and Curriculum Tours programmes, so I am delighted for the team that their hard work, commitment and creativity have been recognised."
Here is a copy of the prestigious certificate we received from the British Youth Travel Awards.


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Through Khalifa Kush Enterprises, rapper Wiz Khalifa is partnering with Supreme Cannabis to release a new line of cannabis oils in Canada.
The new line, KKE, will be available in Canadian provinces British Columbia and Ontario this week with other provinces to follow in the coming months. According to the KKE website, the oils will bring “award-winning expertise to the Canadian cannabis landscape, with strains hand-selected by Wiz Khalifa and the KKE team.”
The KKE oil is a recreational focused oil and one of the first of its kind in Canada. Khalifa seemed excited about the new product.
“I’m excited to bring our first products to Canada and launch KKE Oils. They are an awesome, high-in-THC product that everyone will love,” said Wiz about KKE. “This is a legendary moment that will be followed by many more game-changing releases KKE will launch with Supreme Cannabis over the next year.”
Khalifa is working with Will Dzombak, the CEO of Wiz’s Taylor Gang Ent.; Constance Schwartz-Morini, a principal founder of KKE; and Tim Hunkele, the other principle founder of KKE. The team described the oil through a press release.
“KKE Oil is a premium, recreational focused oil, developed for the consumer who wants the convenience, high THC potency and precise dosing offered by a cannabis oil. KKE Oils are one of the first ever recreational-focused cannabis oils available to consumers in Canada. Wiz Khalifa and the KKE team specifically selected the Supreme Cannabis’ wholly-owned subsidiary, 7ACRES Sensi Star strain for the debut of the line.”
This, of course, isn’t Wiz’s first efforts in the cannabis game. Khalifa Kush has dispensaries in Nevada and Arizona with an online shop that sells rolling papers, shredders, g-pens and bongs.
There is no telling yet if Khalifa intends on selling the KKE oils domestically, but it feels like a natural next step in continuing the growth of an already promising cannabis brand.


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- The PHEV exemption will be phased out in 2025.
- Federal government fleet to go electric
- FBT exemption for fleet
The federal government has pushed a compromise through the Senate to deliver on its election promise of incentives to make electric cars affordable.
Labour’s bill was blocked by a crossbench objection to the inclusion of plug-in hybrids (PHEV).
Greens senators and the independent senator for the ACT, former rugby union player David Pocock, agreed a deal to end the exemption on PHEVs in April 2025. More than EV driving range for rural buyers.
Some car companies expect 2025 to be an inflection point where EVs pass the cost of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, though COVID-19 may put a premium on that.
The government has agreed to buy vehicles with internal combustion engines only where absolutely necessary. EV lobbyists often tout the idea that a government fleet of EVs would spur the creation of a second-hand market, which would help buyers who can’t afford a new car.
Greens lower house MP Adam Band agreed, claiming the policy as a victory for his party, which made the final amendments to clear the way through the Senate. “The government fleet will go electric and this will help bring about when these cars are sold second-hand. [down] EV value for everyday people,” he said.
Senator Pocock echoed Bandit’s sentiments. “Tackling high EV prices requires bold and decisive action.”
The policy is expected to reduce the price of cars like the BYD Atto 3, MG ZS and Nissan Leaf by between $1000 and $2000 for retail buyers, with import charges eliminated. Fleets will see huge discounts in the form of Fringe Benefits Tax exemptions. The government said earlier this year that car sacrifices could save up to $4700 for employees and up to $9000 for businesses.
The bill is dated July 1, 2022, and the concessions are in addition to the available concessions offered by states. The exemption applies to vehicles under the luxury car tax threshold of $84,916
Opposition estimates the bill costs $4.5 billion over the next decade, though it’s unclear whether the incentives will last that long.
Labour’s Jim Chalmers, speaking on the package, said: “The Government has worked in good faith with the crossbench on the amendments. These changes are a win for motorists, a win for business and a win for climate action.”
The policy win comes after a positive week after the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, with other countries praising the new government for making it easier to act on climate than the previous one.
“This is a historic moment for EV policy in Australia. It’s a powerful demonstration of how far we’ve come in just a few short years,” said Electric Vehicle Council Chief Executive Bahad Jafri.
“This bill will allow thousands more Australians to get behind the wheel of an EV where they can access the benefits of lower fuel bills, reduced pollution, and a more enjoyable driving experience.
“Making it easier to buy new EVs will turbocharge the creation of a robust second-hand market for EVs, which is vital to affordability.
“If the federal government combines this bill with new fuel efficiency standards we will soon see a market develop in Australia where everyone can enjoy the benefits of EVs.
“By achieving strong EV uptake we will significantly reduce Australia’s carbon emissions and reduce our precarious dependence on foreign oil.”


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More than 2,000 private technology companies were acquired in 2012. Here's a look at the trends.
With Windows 8 stumbling out of the gate and Google's Linux-powered Chromebooks gaining steam, Microsoft needs to dump Windows 8 for Windows 7 on PCs and the sooner the better.
The IronKey Workspace is an encrypted USB flash drive certified by Microsoft to be a Windows To Go drive device.
Another report has surfaced that the PC maker has neared a multi-billion deal to go private, but Dell isn't there yet.
Analysts are expecting the hard drive market to face a "myriad" of challenges this year.
The latest tool to jailbreak your iOS 6.1-powered device—including at long last the iPhone 5—has been released.
Atlantis Computing is looking to disrupt the converged infrastructure market with an all-flash appliance combining its own software-defined storage technology and a choice of hardware vendors.
It gives the wireless carrier a major entry into the digital health market, and a foothold in a growing South American economy.
Google has said there are 2,000 schools worldwide using its Chrome OS devices, twice as many as there were three months ago.
Tami Reller, one of the pair of Microsoft execs running Windows, provides a few new insights into what's happening -- and coming -- with Windows 8 and Windows RT.
InfoArmy learns that it can't create a high-margin business with low-margin practices.
According to comScore, consumers rarely knew of non-PayPal digital wallets, which aim to replicate physical wallets via devices like smartphones.
Supercomputers can also be green, and the new Eurora supercomputer is the greenest of them all, topping the Green-500 list for performance per watt.
PCLinux 2013.02 KDE and MiniME are available - here's what to expect
TechRepublic’s BYOD Business Strategy Survey reveals that 62 percent of companies either already have Bring Your Own Device allowances in place, or plan to by the end of 2013.
Samsung has been working with Wacom to build its S Pens used in its phones and tablets. It bought 5 percent in Wacom to firm up its pen strategy.
According to a source speaking to The New York Times, President Obama can authorize a 'pre-emptive strike' against a nation if U.S. national security is at risk.
The Gizmo board features a G-T40E dual-core and provides 52 gigaflops—while consuming less than 10 watts.
ZDNet’s directory of MDM vendors has market, product, and contact information on companies that provide mobile device management solutions in the US.