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Pakistan’s imports of cooking oil spiked to $3.56 billion in the first 11 months of the previous fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2022, which was equivalent to 60% of the three-year International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme of $6 billion.
The edible oil imports were 44% (or $1.1 billion) higher compared to $2.47 billion in the same 11 months of fiscal year 2020-21, according to latest data of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Besides, the price of cooking oil shot up close to Rs550 per litre in the domestic market compared to around Rs200 per litre in January 2019, according to the PBS.
“Pakistan’s reliance on imports of edible oil and oilseed meals to meet domestic demand has been increasing over the past two decades. Some 86% of domestic edible oil consumption in 2020 came from imports, up from 77% in 2000,” the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in its latest quarterly report on the State of Pakistan’s Economy for the first quarter (Jul-Sept) of the just ended FY22.
The trend suggests imports are growing rapidly with the increase in the size of population and per capita income in Pakistan, while the pilot projects initiated for growing palm and soybean plants in the country failed to deliver
However, the latest pilot projects undertaken in Sindh to grow palm trees have shown promising results and studies suggest Balochistan also has the land and atmosphere to do so.
However, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are among the regions suitable for soybean cultivation.
The central bank said in a research study that the pilot projects could go commercial if the government gave a policy and showed consistency as well.
“The key finding is that palm does not have much potential in Pakistan in the short to medium term, whereas soybean can be produced on a large scale in the medium term if policy support is provided.”
Edible oil consumption in Pakistan has increased significantly over the past few decades – from 0.7 to 4.7 million tons between 1981 and 2020. The main demand drivers are rising population, dietary preferences and increase in per capita income, the central bank said in a research study.
“Cultivation-related measures … are expected to yield another 2.8 million tons of edible oil. This is expected to reduce import bill of edible oil by $584 million.”
While in part this increase in imports stems from the rising international commodity prices, the rise in palm and soybean imports is not a new phenomenon.
The combined imports of palm and soybean have been growing noticeably over the last 20 years, rising to 7.1% of total imports in FY21 from 3.2% in FY01.
Currently, palm and soybean products are among the top 10 commodities imported by the country.
“Total demand for edible oil in the country is conservatively expected to grow to 5.9 million tons in 2025-26, from 4.7 million tons in FY21.”
Recent efforts to revive oil palm by the Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) show encouraging results, albeit the SCDA’s pilot project is on a much smaller scale of only
SCDA began the pilot project in 2017, and as of June 2021, the authority has rehabilitated palm plantations on 30 acres and replanted trees on 20 acres.
“Based on this pilot, the SCDA assesses oil palm as highly successful with fruiting at par with plantations in Malaysia, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions, such as good farm management, and sufficient irrigated water supply, which is a crucial factor in the assessment of palm potential in Pakistan.”
In addition to oil palm’s potential along the over 200-kilometer coastline in Sindh, up to 500 kilometers of coastline in Balochistan also offers potential for oil palm plantation subject to the availability of water through a canal system.
For local production of soybean, “the tested variety in these (Punjab) regions is a 120-day crop, as against 180-day crops in Brazil and the US,” the SBP research study said.
This is an important development because the previous locally developed varieties had longer duration and were difficult to fit into different
In addition to the pilots, the NARC has recently developed a short-duration variety (NARC-2020) that matures in 90 days with a production potential of up to 1,000 kg per acre. “If marketed successfully, it could also help increase soybean production in the country.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan can be potentially used for growing the currently available varieties of soybean in
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2022.


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HUMBLE, Texas (KTRK) -- Another local business is stepping up to help federal employees affected by the government shutdown.
Exclusive Furniture says it will give away $50 gift cards to furloughed federal employees and contractors today from 2-3 p.m. at its Humble location.
SEE ALSO: What is a government shutdown? 5 things to know
The store is located at 19300 Hwy 59 N.
No purchase is necessary to receive a gift card.
However, you will need to show a valid federal government ID badge and proof of current employment with the government such as a recent paystub.
Furloughed employees will also be served light refreshments and food.
"It's important for us to give back to the community. Our business is here and our livelihood is here so we want to help out those in need as much as possible," said Exclusive Furniture CEO Sam Zavary.
The offer is only available at the Humble location.
RELATED: Free offers for Houston families affected by government shutdown
Exclusive Furniture giving away $50 gift cards to furloughed federal employees today
More TOP STORIES News

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Gary A. Johnson, Founder & Publisher – Black Men In America.com
Updated August 29, 2016 (Originally posted on November 5, 2010).
How black people spend their money has been a hotly debated topic not only on this site, but in our office, at social events and in beauty and barber shops across America. As we look at the year in review, this article has been the most read and commented article for 5 years running. Once I learned that this was the most popular and discussed article on the website, I decided to do some research and share this information with others. The first question that I wanted an answer to was: How long does money stay in the community?
A dollar circulates:
6 hours in the Black community
17 days in the white community
20 days in the Jewish community
30 days in the Asian community
According Tingba Muhammad of the Nation of Islam Research Organization (NOIRG) wasteful black spending is rooted in slavery. Earlier this year, Minister Louis Farrakhan gave speech on the root of black spending behaviors and what black people need to do to correct some of these bad habits. According to the research 42 million Blacks have a spending power amounting to $1.1 trillion, which gives each man, woman, and child an annual spending power of $26,200 dollars. Black spend their money overwhelmingly with white businesses on the following products and services.
tobacco $3.3 billion
whiskey, wine, and beer $3 billion
non-alcoholic $2.8 billion
leisure time spending $3.1 billion
toys, games, and pets $3.5 billion
telephone services $18.6 billion
gifts $10 billion
charitable contributions $17.3 billion
healthcare $23.6 billion
The NOIRG theorizes that when most Blacks emerged from slavery, it frightened the hell out of white people. They knew that money and knowledge in Black hands meant that Blacks would have the power to determine their own destiny apart from white domination and control. The first impulse Blacks had after slavery was to get as far away from whites as possible. They even set up over 60 all-Black towns, in which they managed free of white authority. This trend had to be stopped because with Black independence came the total loss of the labor that whites totally depended on. This created a tremendous amount of oppression. Blacks responded to this oppression by becoming fast spenders.
So, today, Blacks don’t trust banks, or the courts—Blacks “trust” only that which they can hold in their hands at that very moment. As destructive as that behavior is to Black progress is exactly how profitable that behavior is to whites—who will do anything to keep Blacks on that thinking track.
I decided to post this article as a recent and clear example of how, in this case, this black person spends his money. Why the need to flaunt your money? We’re not in the psychology field, so we won’t even venture to speculate.
A new report from Nielsen, “The Increasingly Affluent, Educated and Diverse,” explores the “untold story” of African-American consumers, particularly Black households earning $75,000 or more per year. According to the report, Black people in this segment are growing faster in size and influence than whites in all income groups above $60,000. And as African-American incomes increase, their spending surpasses that of the total population in areas such as insurance policies, pensions and retirement savings.
According to Nielsen, “African-American households spend more on basic food ingredients and beverages and tend to value the food preparation process, spending more time than average preparing meals. Other popular buying categories include fragrances, personal health and beauty products, as well as family planning, household care and cleaning products.”
The authors of this report emphasize that as the social and cultural clout of the Black consumer is on the ascendancy, it is incumbent upon advertisers and marketers of consumer brands to develop a long-tern game with the Black community.
As TheAtlantic notes, Black buying power is expected to reach $1.2 trillion this year, and $1.4 trillion by 2020, according to the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth.
LetsBuyBlack365 is a national grassroots movement that utilizes the online community and local networking to harness Black buying power, with a goal to create jobs and resources to help Black people.
A few years ago we updated our original post with some information from an article written in September 2013, by Stacy M. Brown posted on the Washington Informer.com website titled, “Big Spenders, Small Investors: Blacks Have Little to Show for Hard-Earned Dollars.” In that article, Ms. Brown writes, “If black America counted as an independent country, its wealth would rank 11th in the world. However, African Americans continue to squander their vast spending power, relegating blacks to economic slavery instead of financial freedom, according to several consumer reports detailing the use of cash in the black community.”
We also incorporated 2014 data from the Nielsen Company. If history is any indication of future behavior, this updated article will be hotly debated in 2016. Let’s hope that we can make some progress in this area and close the wealth gap.
Compared to all consumers, African Americans spend 30 percent more of their total income — even though we make $20,000 less than the average household. A whopping 87 percent of annual retail spending consists of Black consumers! But where does our money go? Hudson Valley Press Onlinegives us the scoop via an article from Nielsen’s SVP of public affairs and government relations, Cheryl Pearson-McNeil.
When it comes to shopping at the mall, we make eight more annual trips than any other group pulling in an average of 154 visits. Blacks also patronize dollar stores the most; we make seven more trips than the average group making a total of 20 trips. Lastly, Black Americans made more visits to convenience/gas stores by a small margin: making a total of 15 annual visits.
However, African American trips to grocery stores and warehouse clubs (like Costco) are a bit more scarce. “Less time is spent at grocery stores, with three fewer trips. The exception to grocery store shopping, though, is with Blacks who earn upwards of $100K annually. We also make three fewer trips to warehouse stores and two fewer trips to mass merchandisers than the Total Market. However, more upper-income Blacks (73%) shop at warehouse clubs than non-Blacks annually,” Pearson-McNeil said.
It could be that the lack of grocery stores and other healthy establishments in Black neighborhoods that contribute to this trend. This is why it’s not at all surprising that African-Americans frequent McDonald’s and Burger King more than other U.S. household.
What you probably won’t see in our carts are diary products such as milk and yogurt. “[T]his could be because many of us are lactose-intolerant,” Pearson-McNeil adds.
But probably the largest retail disparity between African Americans and other groups rests in the hair and beauty industry. We spend about nine times more on hair care and beauty products in comparison to other demographics. “In fact, 46% of Black households shop at Beauty Supply Stores and have an average annual total spend of $94 on products at these stores,” Pearson-McNeil says.
All the aforementioned figures were pulled from Resilient, Receptive, and Relevant: The African-American Consumer 2013 Report. With African Americans approaching $1 trillion buying power, one must wonder why aren’t marketers paying more attention to Black consumer trends.
** The average Black household contains 2.57 persons. In addition, Black households averaged 1.25 owned vehicles. Most of these households were renters, living in apartments or flats.8 Their dwellings averaged 5.45 rooms (including finished living areas and excluding all baths) and 1.49 bathrooms. Black households’ annual expenditures averaged $36,149, which was 79.8 percent of their average income before taxes. The amount spent on housing ($13,530) consumed the biggest portion of annual expenditures, accounting for more than one-third of the total. This was followed by transportation ($5,946) and food ($5,825). The remaining expenditures made up roughly 30 percent of total spending: personal insurance and pensions, healthcare, entertainment, cash contributions, apparel, and education, in addition to personal care, tobacco, alcohol, reading, and miscellaneous expenditures.
Black Americans are just 13 percent of the U.S. population, and yet, we’re on trend to have a buying power of $1.4 trillion by 2019. A new Nielsen study hints that marketers may want to start developing a better consumer-producer relationship with African Americans if they want to make big bucks.
Titled “The Multicultural Edge: Rising Super Consumers,” the report finds that the Black American sweet spot, in terms of buying power, lies in ethnic hair and beauty aids (surprise, surprise). African-American dollars make up a whopping 85.8 percent of the industry.
**Here are highlights of the spending patterns of low-income versus high-income Black households:
On average, low-income Black households spent $16,627 in total annual expenditures, compared with high-income Black households who spent approximately $50,000 more.
Housing was the biggest expenditure for both types of households. For the high-income Black households, housing was 34.2 percent of the total annual expenditure. For the low-income Black households, it was nearly half of the total annual expenditure, at 45.5 percent.
Food was another large spending category for both types of households. However, it made up only 12.7 percent of total expenditures for high-income Black households, compared with 23.5 percent for low-income Black households.
Transportation and personal insurance and pensions made up only 11.5 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively, of total expenditure for the low-income Black households. However, for the high-income Black households, these shares were 17.1 percent and 15.0 percent, respectively.
Cash contributions, such as charitable donations, was a smaller expenditure category in which low and high-income Black households differed. Cash contributions were 2.1 percent for the low-income Black households and 4.6 percent for the high-income Black households.
Among the remaining expenditure categories, alcoholic beverages, apparel and services, healthcare, entertainment, personal care, reading, education, and miscellaneous expenditures, low-income and high-income Black households had similar expenditure shares.
Tobacco and smoking supplies was the only expenditure category in which low-income Black households spent both a higher share and a higher actual dollar outlay than their high-income counterparts. For low-income Black households, tobacco and smoking supplies was 1.5 percent ($248) of their total expenditure but made up only 0.3 percent ($218) of total expenditure for high-income Black households.13
Blacks are more aggressive consumers of media and they shop more frequently.
Blacks watch more television (37%), make more shopping trips (eight), purchase more ethnic beauty and grooming products (nine times more), read more financial magazines (28%) and spend more than twice the time at personal hosted websites than any other group.
Blacks make an average of 156 shopping trips per year, compared with 146 for the total market. Favoring smaller retail outlets, blacks shop more frequently at drug stores, convenience stores, and Dollar stores.
Beauty supply stores are also popular within the black community, as they typically carry an abundance of ethnic hair and beauty aids reside that cater specifically to the unique needs of black hair textures.
While the numbers indicate that Black folks are an important part of the buying public, companies spend just three-percent (3%) of their advertising budgets marketing to black consumers. According to Cheryl Pearson McNeil, a Vice President at Nielsen, “The Black population is young, hip and highly influential. We are growing 64 percent faster than the general market,” she explains.
However, Noel King, a reporter for NPR’s Marketplace, cautions companies against trying to reach Black consumers without knowing our needs. “If you want to market to those groups, then you should know what particular group buys your stuff,” says King. “Blacks tend to spend more on electronics, utilities, groceries, footwear. They spend a lot less on new cars, alcohol, entertainment, health care, and pensions.”
Despite our collective buying power, statistical data reflects that much of that money is spent outside of the Black community and not with Black-owned businesses.
Compare these numbers about “dollar circulation” reported by the NAACP:
“Currently, a dollar circulates in Asian communities for a month, in Jewish communities approximately 20 days and white communities 17 days. How long does a dollar circulate in the Black community? 6 hours! Black American buying power is at 1.1 Trillion; and yet only 2 cents of every dollar blacks spend in this country goes to black owned businesses.”
If the “dollar circulation” data does not get your attention, consider the following information from an article written by financial expert Ryan Mack:
“About a quarter of all Hispanic (24 percent) and black (24 percent) households in 2009 had no assets other than a vehicle, compared with just 6 percent of white households. These percentages are little changed from 2005.” (Pew Research)
“The median amount Black households reported saving on a monthly basis is $189, compared to $367 among White households…. [This is] the first time in a decade that African-American households have reported saving less than $200 per month.” (Ariel Investments 2010 Black Investor Survey)
“Blacks on the average are six times more likely than Whites to buy a Mercedes, and the average income of a Black who buys a Jaguar is about one-third less than that of a White purchaser of the luxury vehicle.” Earl Graves, Black Enterprise Magazine
Although Blacks make up 13-percent of the U.S. population, just seven-percent (7%) of small business are owned by Blacks. Access to capital, clientele, and other resources hinder many Black folks from starting business, despite a long history of entrepreneurship.
African Americans consistently outpace the total market population in overall growth, smart phone ownership, television viewing and annual shopping trips according to the new study, “Resilient, Receptive and Relevant: The African-American Consumer 2013 Report,” a collaborative effort by the Nielsen Company in New York and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), located in Northwest Washington, D.C.
Black buying power continues to increase, rising from its current $1.1 trillion level to a forecasted $1.3 trillion by 2017.
Despite the strong economic outlook, Blacks continue to spend most of their money outside of the Black community and, according to Nielsen and NNPA, advertisers have repeatedly slighted the black media, spending only three percent, or $2.24 billion, of the $75 billion spent with all media last year.
Each year, Blacks spend more than $47 billion on Lincoln automobiles, $3.7 billion on alcohol, $2.5 billion on Toyotas, $2 billion on athletic shoes, and $600 million each year on McDonald’s and other fast foods, according to Target Market News Inc., a Chicago-based marketing research group.
Blacks also spend wildly to keep up their appearances. The black hair care and cosmetics industry counts as a $9 billion a year business, but while African Americans are spending the most, they are profiting the least, said officials from the Black Owned Beauty Supply Association (BOBSA) in Palo Alto, Calif. Beauty product lines designed for African Americans were once 100 percent owned and operated by blacks, today other ethnic groups control more than 70 percent of the market.
The current homeownership rate reveals that 73.5 percent of whites own homes while approximately 43.9 percent of Blacks are homeowners, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies State of the Nation report for 2013.
Sixty percent of Blacks have less than $50,000 saved in company retirement plans and only 23 percent have more than $100,000.
The loyalty blacks have to their church also has proven costly, said officials at Faith Communities Today, a nonprofit based in Hartford, Conn. A 2013 study revealed that Black churches have collected more than $420 billion in tithes and donations nationwide since 1980, an average of $252 million a week.
“What people fail to see and understand is that, the church pastors aren’t waiting for miracles to fund their lifestyles, they don’t have to pray, day in and day out, to make their ends meet,” said Northwest resident and author, Byron Woulard. They are getting rich off God, not from God,” he said. Woulard, whose books include, the 2011, “Pawn Queen,” noted that the money spent tithing could buy as many as 93,333 homes valued at $150,000; pay for tuition up to $15,000 a year for 933,333 college students, and feed every homeless American for a year. “It’s the best hustle on the planet. If you don’t get it here on earth, you’ll get it when you die and go to heaven,” Woulard said. “And, it just so happens that not one person in the history of this planet has died, went to heaven, and come back to tell everyone that it’s true.”
Stacy M. Brown’s article posted on the Washington Informer.com website concludes with what is described as an inescapable fact: When black folks make money, they are quick to spend it!
According to Dr. Boyce Watkins, a Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University in New York, also known as “the people’s scholar,” “We don’t use money to invest or produce,” said Watkins, 42.” When we get our tax refund, we go straight to the store.”
The 17th annual report on “The Buying Power of Black America” also includes a dollar-by-dollar breakdown of the Black economy.
With $836 Billion in Total Earning Power, only $321 Million Spent on Books while $7.4 Billion Spent on Hair and Personal Care Products and Services
New ‘Buying Power’ report shows black consumers spend as economy improves
New 16th edition shows expenditures rise to $507 billion
(November 1, 2010) African-American consumers are cautiously increasing their spending in some key product categories, even as they continue to make adjustments in a slowly growing economy. The finding comes from the soon to be issued 16th annual edition of “The Buying Power of Black America” report.
In 2009, black households spent an estimated $507 billion in 27 product and services categories. That’s an increase of 16.6% over the $435 billion spent in 2008. African-Americans’ total earned income for 2009 is estimated at $836 billion.
The report, which is published annually by Target Market News, also contains data that reflect the economic hardships all consumers are facing. There were significant declines in categories — like food and apparel — that have routinely shown growth in black consumers’ spending from year-to-year.
“These latest shifts in spending habits are vital for marketers to understand,” said Ken Smikle, president of Target Market News and editor of the report, “because they represent both opportunities and challenges in the competition for the billions of dollars spent by African-American households. Expenditures between 2007 and 2008 were statistically flat, so black consumers are now making purchases they have long delayed. At the same time, they re-prioritizing their budgets, and spending more on things that add value to their homes and add to the quality of life.”
The median household income for African-Americans dropped by 1.4% in 2009, but because of students going out on their own, and couples that started their lives together, the number of black households grew 4.2%. This increase meant that many household items showed big gains. For example, purchases of appliances rose by 33%, consumer electronics increased 33%, household furnishings climbed 28%, and housewares went up by 37%.
Estimated Expenditures by Black Households – 2009
Apparel Products and Services
Cars and Trucks – New & Used
Entertainment and Leisure
Households Furnishings & Equipment
Housing and Related Charges
Personal and Professional Services
Personal Care Products and Services
Sports and Recreational Equipment
Toys, Games and Pets
Travel, Transportation and Lodging
Source: Target Market News,
“The Buying Power of Black American – 2010”
“The Buying Power of Black America” is one of the nation’s most quoted sources of information on African-American consumer spending. It is used by hundreds of Fortune 1000 corporations, leading advertising agencies, major media companies and research firms.
The report is an analysis of consumer expenditure (CE) data compiled annually by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The CE data is compiled from more than 3,000 black households nationally through dairies and interviews. This information is also used for, among things, computing the Consumer Price Index.
The report provides updated information in five sections:
– Black Income Data
– Purchases in the Top 30 Black Cities
– Expenditure Trends in 26 Product & Services Categories
– The 100-Plus Index of Black vs. White Expenditures
– Demographic Data on the Black Population
According to Forbes magazine, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., made more than $420 million in 2015. He is the highest paid athlete in the world.
Black Men In America.com is a popular website with a focus on black men. Approximately 45% of our site visitors are women. According to Alexa Internet and Ranking.com, Black Men In America.com is consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 most popular web sites (online community) on the Internet in the Ethnic/African/African-American category. Although our focus is on black men, we welcome all people, points of views and perspectives.
Please do not use this site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post.
By Gary A. Johnson – Publisher, Black Men In America.com Updated October 7, 2017 (Originally posted on November 5, 2010). How black people spend their money has been a hotly debated topic not only on this site, but in our office, at social events [...]


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Posted by: Laura Hammond
Wed 1st March 2023
Supermarkets may be rationing fruit and vegetables but there is no shortage of supply at Alfreton Indoor Market.
It is business as normal at Denise’s Fruit and Veg stall, which is fully stocked with fruit and vegetables and there is no limit on how much you can buy.
Denise Balandis, who runs the stall, buys her stock from the wholesalers, which she says is becoming increasingly expensive.
She told the Spirit of Alfreton that the price of some items – like red peppers, for example – have more than doubled in price recently due to cold weather in the countries where they are grown.
Denise said: “There’s a lot coming from abroad, tomatoes and cucumbers that aren’t grown in this country yet.
“Normally there’s lots coming from Spain because it’s normally warm there but they’ve got really bad weather so they’re having to put their heating and lighting on to bring them on, and that’s why it’s so expensive.”
Denise has had to put her prices up to reflect the rising cost of fruit and vegetables from the wholesalers but still has a full range available, unlike many supermarkets.
Alfreton Indoor Market, on Institute Lane, is open between 8am and 4pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
You can find out more about the market here.
Inspectors praise 'strong vision' and 'happy community' at Leys Junior School
Donna's Fitness - Yoga & Meditation
AVBC planning board to discuss huge Somercotes housing development
Water safety expert from Alfreton named as finalist in national STA Aquatic Excellence Awards
Alfreton Youngsters Umbrella Provision moves to new venue


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The world of automotive news isn't quite the same as, say politics.
Read This Article
Under normal circumstances, very few production cars in the world can keep up with a Nissan GT-R on a racetrack.
Amid news of a U.S. government shutdown, Hyundai and Nissan are offering payment relief for workers directly affected by the furlough.
Nissan knows how to make Fridays worthwhile.


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The ambience is still fresh in the minds of attendees, especially corps of travel media who could not recapitulate the experience in jiffy at the Akwaaba African Travel Market 2018 that was held in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to AfriTraveller list, The Gambia is one among the top eight best stands at the just concluded Akwaaba African Travel Market 2018.
The Smiling Coast’s name was splashed across some daily news, both print and online media alongside with South African Tourism, Dubai Tourism, Ethiopian Airlines, Ghana Tourism Authority, Anambra State, Lagos State and Air Namibia.
As usual, the exhibitors at the 2018 edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market included airlines, tour operators, hotels and hoteliers, hospitality companies, tourism authorities/boards as the list goes on.
In reference to AfriTraveller, this year’s edition “had a record number of stands and exhibitors’ and the stands were all colourful and well appointed.”
A testimony about the Smiling Coast stand from AfriTraveller reads: “The Gambia promised to bring charms to the 2018 Akwaaba ATM, and they fulfilled that promise, they brought charms.
Their stand literally brought the Gambia to Nigeria with inspiring messages and exhibits that made you want to jump into the next flight to The Gambia. I haven’t been to the Gambia yet, but the stand opened my mind and I learnt a lot of things I never knew or even heard about the Gambia. I learnt about Arch 22, a monument commemorating the July 22, 1994 coup d’etat in The Gambia. I also learnt about Fort Bullen, the only fort in West Africa purposely built to enforce the abolition of slavery in Africa.”
However, Akwaaba is the major international travel exhibition in West Africa specialised in the area of business travel and tourism with the primary target of hotels, conferences, airlines, tourism authorities, hospitality firms and events among others. For almost fourteen years, different hotels, airlines, tour operators in Africa have been participating.
Author: Yunus S. Saliu


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They'll show up at your door unannounced and unwelcome, often using strong-arm tactics - such as fast talking and false promises - to pique your interest.
Whatever they're selling, you shouldn't be buying. It's never a good idea to conduct business at your front door.
As the weather warms, it also becomes the prime season for door-to-door scams. A major one involves the sale of home-security systems.
"I tell people, unless it's a Girl Scout or a Boy Scout knocking at your door, keep the door shut," said David Myers, vice president of regional business development for Indianapolis-based F.E. Moran Security Solutions. "A lot of these companies generally take college kids and go nationwide. They usually get bad ratings and will change the name of their company and start over again."
In the Indianapolis area, Myers has seen instances in which the sales people say they are with the local company the homeowner has a contract with and then claim they need to do upgrades.
"The people will end up signing their contract, and the people will throw away our equipment," Myers said. "The customer may not even own the equipment. Now they have two monitoring contracts. A majority of the (homeowners) don't tend to do their research."
The Indiana Attorney General's Office investigated such a case in 2010, when a Utah company reportedly told homeowners that the Indianapolis company that provided them their home security system was going out of business. In turn, the Utah company replaced the current system with theirs - leaving the homeowner with two bills.
Gus Apple, with Indianapolis-based Nelson Alarm said other scams include companies from out of state selling inferior equipment to homeowners.
"They come door-to-door selling free alarm systems or systems for $99," Apple said. "Then, they lock you into a long-term contract for three to five years. The equipment is inferior. I've known people that have been burglarized with this equipment, and the burglars just yank the alarm off the wall and it doesn't work."
Most people are caught off guard by these scams, Myers said. Aside from owning two contracts, the monthly service fees are generally higher than local companies charge. And the prices often go up after a year with the service.
There are several ways tips to avoid being scammed. No. 1, don't fall for door-to-door sales.
"Whether they're door-to-door or not, (the homeowners) need to call and verify," Myers said. "They need to know who they are speaking with. Our company is never going to send someone out unbeknownst to the homeowner. The other thing, read the paperwork. That is by far the most important thing they need to do. Read what they are about to sign. The kids sitting across from you can promise you the world."
Because security systems can be expensive and include a contract, make sure to do your research when choosing a company. This is important, Apple said, because Indiana is one of the few states that does not require licensing for such work.
"Don't sign the paperwork," Apple said. "Tell them to come back. Always get three bids; talk to three different companies to give you a quote."
Apple said homeowners need to resist high-pressure tactics. "The good ones will (work hard to) get you to sign that paperwork," he said.


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CarGurus has confirmed it will be waiving its subscription fees for its UK platforms in February in response to the latest lockdown.
It means there will be zero costs for dealers using the firm’s CarGurus UK and PistonHeads platforms for all of February.
CarGurus is also offering subscribing dealers free trials of its Area Boost product, enabling dealers to ‘expand their reach for vehicles available for contactless delivery’, a statement said.
The waiving of fees by CarGurus follows a similar move by Auto Trader on January 6, which is making its platform free for February and extending its January payment terms.
Other platforms are expected to follow Auto Trader’s and CarGurus’ leads.
Wendy Harris, UK managing director at CarGurus and PistonHeads, said: ‘Although this latest nationwide lockdown is challenging for everybody, we remain hopeful that with vaccinations underway, we will all be able to turn the corner on this pandemic.
‘At CarGurus, we are going to continue to support our dealer partners during this period so they can continue to engage with buyers and build pipeline for brighter days ahead.’
Car Dealer discussed the help suppliers are offering car dealers, as well as how dealers can operate during the latest lockdown, in our new Podcast. You can find it by searching for the ‘Car Dealer Podcast’ on your preferred platforms, like Spotify, or use this link to listen now.


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Breeders and growers across the fresh produce industry are on the hunt for the next big product – the one that will capture the imagination of consumers and help them rake in the cash, but perhaps nowhere is that search as experimental and outlandish as it is in micro produce – the Willy Wonka side of the fresh produce trade.
As recently as a decade ago micro leaf didn’t even exist, yet now it is widely used in high-end foodservice. Some products, like micro coriander, can even be found in supermarket ready meals. In the past ten to 12 years a huge amount of work has been put in by the likes of Westlands to develop the growing process, the market and the product, and the Evesham-based producer now has nearly 160 product lines to speak of.
Although some of Westlands’ quirky leaves may not be to everyone’s taste, general manager Peter Taylor says there is “usually a place for everything”. Speaking at the London Produce Show’s Foodservice Forum earlier this month, he told delegates how micro leaves are allowing chefs to “put their own spin on things and create a point of difference from the restaurant down the road”.
When it comes to the products that Westlands tips to be ‘the next big thing’ in foodservice, Taylor said edible rose petals have seen a “huge rise in sales” and are generating “big demand” for use in drinks, salads and desserts. Another product that Taylor believes has strong potential is micro mint. “Micro mint has been around for quite a while, but we’ve never been able to grow it in a volume that’s commensurate to how we think demand should be because it’s a staple herb that people want,” he said. “Now we’ve got a good, stable volume and I see micro mint coming up as a very versatile micro leaf that can be used for drinks, desserts and savoury dishes”.
In addition, Bolivian begonia flowers combine bright colours and an acidic, sorrel-like taste which Taylor says is “top of the list of flavours that chefs are looking for at the moment”. Another product that leaves a sour taste, but in a good way, is plum sorrel – an attractive tricoloured red leaf with a yellow flower. “It’s certainly quite sour,” said Taylor, “but chefs want those extreme flavours because they can pair them with sweet ingredients or other flavours.”
Over in the east of England, micro produce grower Nurtured in Norfolk says coriander, lemon balm, mint, chive flowers and garlic flowers are among its most popular products due to their high flavour profile, explaining that chefs want to “add depth and flavour to the palate rather than just a garnish.” Sue Drane, who is managing director of the company alongside her husband Allan Miller, echoes Taylor at Westlands, saying edible flowers are now in high demand thanks to their flavour, texture and colour.
When it comes to idea generation, Taylor stresses the importance of not being afraid to experiment on the basis of trial by error. “We’ve got to try things and sometimes we’ve got to try them on a fairly big scale to see if they work or not,” he said. “There are plenty of plants, flowers and all sorts of products that we’ve tried to grow, and thought might be the next big thing, but they weren’t. Lots of products have fallen by the wayside compared to the one or two that have started to make it.”
It’s not simply a case of stabbing in the dark, however, with Taylor saying Westlands has some “fairly clear ideas” of what it’s trying to do to make a number of its ranges more exciting and to keep chefs interested. “We have two-way communication with chefs. We have chefs that come to us and say, ‘we’d like you to grow this’, and we also go to chefs and say, ‘we’ve grown this, what do you think?’”
As a hydroponic vertical grower, product development at Westlands involves playing around with the frequency of LED lights. Vernon Mascarenhas, who is commercial director of high-end foodservice supplier Nature’s Choice and was one of Westlands’ first customers earlier in his career, explains that you can change the flavour of a micro product by altering the frequency of LED lighting used to grow it.
“Each plant responds to a different frequency and you can create new flavours using different frequencies,” he explains. “Companies like Thorn in the UK and Philips in Holland are investing multi millions in lighting technology”.
With vertical farming technology progressing at breakneck speed – in lighting, hydroponics, seeds and growing techniques – Mascarenhas says Ocado’s recent investment of £17 million in the industry (see page 4) is a drop in the ocean compared to what’s happening in America’s Silicon Valley.
“You’ve got companies investing over $1 billion in vertical farming over there, and while Europe is more advanced in research, America is much more advanced in terms of securing investment and rolling out the technology.”
Despite this, Mascarenhas is confident that the UK is on the cusp of taking a major step in vertical farming, from producing micro cress to wholehead lettuce, namely gem and cos.
“Things like micro coriander and micro fennel mean bugger all to the general consumer – it’s a restaurant trend,” he says, “but if you can produce wholehead lettuce within 18 days for a supermarket, that’s where the real money is.”


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Tickets for accessible viewing platforms are available to purchase online for the first time at AEG's world-leading London venue
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In an open letter to ticket buyers, StubHub's Jeff Poirier says the new Ticket Sales Act, stripped of its transparency provision, is a "disappointment for fans like you"
By Jon Chapple on 14 Dec 2017
StubHub’s general manager for concerts and theatre in North America, Jeff Poirier, has penned an “open letter to fans” criticising Ontario’s abandonment of the planned ticket transparency provisions in its new Ticket Sales Act, which passed into law yesterday.
In its current form, the Ticket Sales Act caps the price of resold tickets at 150% of face value, bans ticket bots and requires business selling or reselling tickets to disclose certain information, including the capacity of the venue, the number of tickets on general on-sale and the original face-value ticket price.
It also originally required ticket sellers to disclose how many tickets are available to the public for a given event seven days before they go on sale – a provision abandoned last month following reported opposition from the concert industry. Among those believed to have pushed back against the transparency clause were Live Nation/Ticketmaster Canada and industry association Music Canada Live; according to local media, Ticketmaster’s Canadian COO, Patti-Anne Tarlton, told Ontarian parliamentarians that revealing total ticket numbers “could enable [touts] to better use bots to buy bulk tickets where they’re known to be scarce”.
Poirier disagrees, and in the open letter, published yesterday, says the stripped-back legislation will be remembered for its “unintended consequences” on ordinary ticket buyers – and push the secondary market underground.
“Today, the Ontario Liberals passed their Ticket Sales Act,” he writes. “Consultations were initially approached with the best of intentions: increase transparency on availability of tickets on the market and level the playing field so you have better access and more insight into the ticket buying process. In the end, this legislation will be known more for its unintended consequences than its protection of fans like you.
“The government has maintained proposals that set fans back and stripped important transparency requirements that could have truly benefited you”
“In its original form, the Ticket Sales Act banned the use of bots to procure tickets, required ticket businesses to disclose more information to consumers and capped the resale price of tickets. Yet the government has maintained proposals that set fans back and stripped important transparency requirements that could have truly benefited you.”
While he reiterates StubHub’s previously expressed support for banning ticket bots, Poirier cites the January 2016 study by New York attorney-general Eric Schneiderman – which found that up to 75% of tickets are being held back from the general public – as evidence that “the issues impacting ticket access are broader than just bots”, which many consider to be only a small part of wider structural issues affecting the ticketing sector. This shortage of publicly available tickets, he continues, “is one of the reasons why you see popular shows ‘sell out’ so quickly”.
“The original legislation required ticket sellers to disclose how many tickets were actually being made available for sale – a simple concept that would provide you better insight into the actual availability of tickets,” writes Poirier. “This is the very issue the proposed legislation was trying to solve. Yet, the government chose to remove this critical provision from the legislation, citing pressure from the live entertainment industry as a prevailing reason over establishing transparency for Ontario fans like you.
“At StubHub, we understand transparency is important across the entire ticket industry, not just in the resale market. You should be able to know how many tickets are available for an event, what your seats will look like and how much you’re going to pay for them. Only in that circumstance can you make a purchase that you truly feel good about.”
“You should be able to know how many tickets are available for an event, what your seats will look like and how much you’re going to pay for them”
“When it comes to price caps,” he continues, “StubHub joins the industry in opposing this measure. This proposal stands to negatively impact Ontario fans like you and Ontario-based businesses like StubHub as ticket resales are driven off platforms that have robust consumer protections. Ticket resale prices will continue to be driven by supply and demand, not by arbitrarily set price caps. The fact is, if a venue holds 20,000 fans, but 100,000 fans want to attend the performance, ticket prices will reflect that demand. If the established market rate exceeds the 50% cap established by government, those sales won’t stop or adapt to reflect the price caps – they’ll just occur at their true value through channels the government cannot regulate. It will happen on street corners where the risk of counterfeit and fraud is significant, and no guarantees are in place; or it will happen on ticket resale websites located outside of jurisdiction of the Ontario government. Either way, you and businesses that have invested in the province will be hurt.
“Consumers benefit from a competitive ticket market where transactions occur through secure channels that prioritise fans. At the same time, it is important to incentivise and encourage this ecommerce to remain right here, in Ontario.
“We have said from the onset that we believe there is a better way for the industry and for you. It’s our mission at StubHub to connect you to incredible live event experiences, and to do so safely and securely by including money back guarantees and fraud prevention measures. This legislation is a disappointment for the ticketing industry, and a disappointment for fans like you.”
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Dollarama is telling customers to throw out a toy sold at its Canadian stores.
Health Canada says the “Skip Ball” toys have a high level of a chemical that could cause reproductive and developmental problems in young children. The chemical is dangerous if the plastic is sucked or chewed for a long time.
Over 500,000 of the toys were sold in Canada between January 2012 and July 27th, 2018.
The product number of the toy, found on the front of the packaging, is 14-1401338.
You can throw out the toy or return it to Dollarama for a refund without a receipt. So far Dollarama has not had any reports of injury from the toy.


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A whole mess of games are currently on sale on Xbox Live today and through next week, including Ridge Racer Unbounded, Persona 4 Arena, Portal ...
Capcom has released a new trailer for its upcoming Street Fighter cameo DLC for Asura's Wrath.
Capcom has confirmed several DLC episodes for the recently released Asura's Wrath.
Capcom has released the official launch trailer for Asura's Wrath which hit U.S. stores yesterday.
Capcom Japan has released two new gameplay videos for Asura's Wrath, so it claims, however they don't really contain much in the way of gameplay.
The upcoming CyberConnect 2 saga of rage-fueled fighting Asura's Wrath will have a variety of retailer-specific pre-order bonuses, the game's ...
Capcom has confirmed the official release date of Asura's Wrath, their upcoming beat-em-up, for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.


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Blasted decorations are everywhere and Mariah Carey’s Christmas album is being played in shopping centre – it’s official, the festive season is upon us.
And this year, ALDI has come out and said what most brands aren’t prepared to admit: sometimes, Christmas can be a right pain in the ass.
Between the gifts, the food, the pressure of shopping and the expectations of the season, it can make for an extremely stressful period. But among all the stress, panic and family dramas, there are real moments of warmth and togetherness that make it all worthwhile.
These are the moments that ALDI’s new Christmas campaign, created by BMF, embraces.
“We brought the ALDI irreverence to Christmas by celebrating the truth. The stress is just as much a part of it, as is the joy. And ALDI makes the joy possible with its amazing products…” BMF managing director, Steve McArdle, said.
The team also launched a war against decorations:
BMF creative director Alex Derwin added the campaign is a breath of fresh air amid the Christmas chaos.
“By showing the stress of the festive season in such a frenetic and freewheeling way, the viewer gets to feel the pleasure of finally sitting down to enjoy their Christmas dinner. It’s simple, direct and irreverent, just like ALDI ads should be,” he said.
The campaign showcases ALDI’s range of savoury food, seafood, desserts, sweets and Christmas decorations. The range was launched in ALDI’s catalogue and will feature prominently leading into Christmas.
The launch 60 second TVC aired on Sunday, with other TVCs promoting ALDI’s great prices appearing throughout the festive period. The campaign also includes print, radio, online and POS.
This is ALDI’s fourth major Christmas campaign under the ‘Perfect Aussie Christmas’ platform, and follows the success of the highly popular Surfin’ Santas and ALDI’s trip to Europe, to prove the uniqueness of an Australian Christmas. The campaign positions ALDI as the complete go-to for everyone’s Christmas needs.


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NOTHING PHONE 1 PRICE INDIA
Nothing phone (1) now at Rs 28K, Flipkart announces new deals ahead of Big Billion Days Sale
Flipkart is also offering an exchange discount on the handset.
iPhone 14 goes on sale in India today. Check deals, trade-in offers to enjoy up to Rs 32,000 discount on new Apple smartphone
While the iPhone 14 is going on sale from Sep 16, the iPhone Plus will be available from Oct 7.
Nothing phone (1) under Rs 20K? Flipkart’s Big Billion Days Sale 2022 offers attractive deals on device
The device comes with a Snapdragon 778G+ chip and 6.5-inch OLED display.
iPhone 14 Pro with A16 Bionic chip & 48MP camera launched, price starts at Rs 1.3L; iPhone 14 starts at Rs 80K: Check out details
The new iPhone series comes with a plethora of features and new colour options.
Nothing Phone (1) back on Flipkart for sale: Know the specifications, price, offers
All storage variants of Nothing Phone (1) have got a Rs. 1000 price hike. Here's the details on the new pricing and other specifications of the smartphone.
Nothing Phone 1 receives OS updates with improved camera, key features. Here are detailsNothing Phone 1 was launched in July earlier this year. The company has rolled out the v1.1.3 OS update, new battery and camera optimization features, and general bug fixes.
Did Nothing change phone (1) specifications? Brand clarifies on peak brightness value changeNothing phone (1) was launched with the claim that it has up to 1,200 nits peak brightness.
Nothing phone (1) Lite not happening! Carl Pei terms report hinting at new device fake newsThe Lite version was rumoured to be launched in India by October.
Founder Carl Pei rubbishes reports over Nothing Phone (1) Lite. This is what he saidSeveral weeks earlier, rumors regarding Nothing Phone (1) Lite were being circulated. However, Carl Pei, the founder of Nothing Company, recently took to Twitter to dispel rumors regarding a cheaper version of the Nothing Phone (1).
Nothing phone (1) review: Futuristic design, stunning cameras, and efficiency make for a solid somethingNothing phone (1) is more than what meets the eye.
Nothing Phone (1) delivery faces hiccups. This is what brand's CEO saysThe delivery of Nothing Phone (1), a new smartphone in the market, is taking longer than expected. The company has put the blame of the delay on the complicated assembling process of the phone.
Nothing phone (1) goes on sale in India. Check out introductory offersThe smartphone comes in three storage configurations and two colours.
Nothing phone (1) comes without this key accessory. Here's what you need to knowFlipkart is offering massive discounts on Nothing phone (1) accessories.
#BoycottNothing, #DearNothing trend; upset 'South Indian' techies call for device ban after 'prank' goes wrongNothing India GM Manu Sharma took to Twitter to share a clarification message.
Nothing Phone (1) launched! 10 Things You Need To KnowNothing phone (1) comes with a striking design that has set a new precedent for Android smartphones. With unmatched specifications and superior performance, the device is set to enthral all. Swipe left to see more on the much-talked-about device.
Nothing phone (1) launch: Expected price & specs, how to watch live streamNothing’s debut phone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 G+ processor.
Nothing phone (1) with Snapdragon 778G+, 50MP cameras launched in India; price starts at Rs 32KThe smartphone is offered in black and white colours.
Nothing phone (1) price leaked ahead of launch; brand teases photography samplesNothing phone (1) comes with a 50MP primary camera that flaunts a Sony IMX766 sensor.
Get Rs 2K discount on Nothing phone (1), Flipkart announces deals ahead of July 12 launchThe Nothing device will be officially launched on July 12 worldwide.
Confirmed! Nothing phone (1) to come with in-display fingerprint scannerNothing phone (1) will be launched on July 12 around the world.
Nothing phone (1) to come with mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+, Carl Pei explains whyThe device will be launched worldwide on July 12.
Tech treat: Massive price drop on iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone SE; Nothing phone (1) to be available offlineFlipkart has announced massive deals on iPhone 13 Mini, 12 Mini and SE 2020.
Nothing phone (1) specs and price leaked before July 12 launch. Check out detailsThe Glyph interface on the rear panel is one of the striking features of the device.
Nothing phone (1 ) opens invite-only pre-orders for India. Here's how to registerNothing phone (1) is set to launch worldwide on July 12.
Nothing Phone (1) to come with customisable rear LED notification panel, to light up on calls, charging & moreThe device features over 900 LEDs to make its unique pattern called the Glyph Interface.
Nothing Phone (1) official poster reveals solid white design with dual-camera systemThe smartphone will be officially launched on July 12.
Google-backed firm Nothing to manufacture smartphone in India to meet domestic demand"We are thrilled to announce that every phone (1) sold in India will be manufactured locally," Nothing India vice president and general manager Manu Sharma said. The smartphone will be manufactured in Tamil Nadu. Nothing is developing its own Operating System (OS) for Phone (1), which will be built using Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile platform.Load More
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Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor, or a reporter, stress comes with the job. But taking an hour out of your day to meditate or practice yoga isn’t always a realistic goal. Enter Simple Habit, a sort of Netflix for meditation, whereby users can choose from a variety of five-minute sessions tailored to help them overcome challenging professional situations like public speaking or asking for a raise. What’s more, the app can also help with such social situations as going on a date or giving a toast. The San Francisco-based startup announced today funding of $2.5 million in a seed round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA).
The app, which is available on both iOS and Android, offers more than 1,000 meditating sessions — 50 free ones, with the possibility to upgrade to a Premium version for $11.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Extra features include unlimited access to all premium content as well as the ability to download a session and use it offline while on a flight, for example. Simple Habit’s founder and CEO, Yunha Kim, claims that more than 400,000 users have downloaded the app in the past eight months.
Kim is well acquainted with the startup world, having sold her previous company Locket to Wish in 2015. The entrepreneur began working on Simple Habit while studying business at Stanford, later dropping out to focus entirely on her new project. Fresh out of Y Combinator’s Winter 2017 batch, Simple Habit is entering a market that’s already flooded with meditation apps like Headspace, Aura, Calm, Stop, Breathe & Think, and OMG, I Can Meditate!
So what’s different here? “Simple Habit is a marketplace of meditation teachers, rather than a single teacher meditation app,” wrote Kim, in an email to VentureBeat. “We bring top meditation and mindfulness teachers from all over the world, ranging from experts that teach positive psychology at universities, to executive coaches and godfathers in the mindfulness space, and make them available in one place.” According to Kim, the app targets busy people with specific needs, like engineers who seek to sharpen their focus or anxious employees who are dealing with difficult coworkers.
Simple Habit was founded in 2016 and currently has four employees. FJ Labs, Foundation Capital, YC, and founders of Dropbox and Gusto joined NEA in today’s round.


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Tag - FuelBand
Apple and Nike have come to an agreement, potentially ending the class action suit against the pair over the Nike FuelBand. Suit BC509363 in the Superior Court of California accused Apple and Nike of misleading customers on the tracking capability and monitoring accuracy of the Nike FuelBand in marketing materials. The plaintiffs alleged specifically that the FuelBand failed to accurately determine calorie burn, overall activity level, and steps taken. Allegedly, Apple and Nike knew of the problems, and continued to sell the gadget well after determining the inadequacy of the sensors and software.
Nike has made a major update to its free Nike+ FuelBand app on iOS, putting less of an emphasis on the fitness tracker of the same name. Echoing a similar update made to the Nike+ Running app in October last year, the renamed Nike+ Fuel app now uses the iPhone's M8 motion co-processor to track activities as part of its HealthKit integration, allowing users to collect the Fuel points by carrying the phone rather than wearing the FuelBand itself.
Nike has finally released an Android version of the Nike+ FuelBand app, two years after it launched the iOS version, and far later than initially anticipated. The app works with the company's FuelBand SE wrist-based fitness tracker, allowing users to monitor their NikeFuel score and other functions the sports brand introduced in the original companion app.
In a new CNBC interview, Nike CEO Mark Parker says he is "excited" about where his company's relationship with Apple will go, something that may hint at new products. Parker is mum on specifics of collaborative possibilities, but says that in terms of the wearable fitness device industry, Nike will focus on software instead of hardware, integrating it into both Nike's products and that of its partners, with the aim of growing the Fuel brand.
In an unexpected move, Nike has opted to fire as many as 70 members of its Digital Sport division who were focused on hardware development and will not release a now-cancelled new version of the FuelBand fitness tracker that was expected this fall. The company will continue to support the existing FuelBand SE, but is otherwise planning to exit the wearables market just as it is gaining mainstream traction. The company plans to focus on software going forward -- possibly signalling a partnership with a hardware maker.
As expected, many CES exhibitors chose to focus on wearable technology this year. Razer was among the companies attempting to make a foray into the growing market, introducing the Nabu wristband that provides smartphone notifications and fitness features. We met with one of the product engineers this week to try on a prototype and see how it compares to Nike's FuelBand and more complex devices such as the Galaxy Gear.
Despite launching an updated model, Nike has confirmed it will be providing some features from the Fuelband SE to its older FuelBand. New firmware and an app update will be available to users of the preceding model, though it is not clear if they will be provided at the Fuelband SE's November 6th launch or shortly afterward.
Nike has launched an updated version of its Fuelband activity monitoring device at its NikeFuel Forum event. The Nike+ FuelBand SE retains the same basic design of the original, adding some bright accents to the main black color, but it is now able to more accurately track movements used in specific types of activities through its new algorithms, making it much harder to fool.
Nike has sent out invitations to the media for an October 15 event in New York City, where it plans to discuss the future of its digital world experience. Likely, but not confirmed, at the event is a new iteration of the FuelBand monitoring device, which is nearly two years old.
Apple has started assembling a team of people specializing in fitness, medical sensors, manufacturing, and hardware and software engineering in order to produce a fitness-focused wearable computer chock full of sensor technology, sources say. Apple is stated to have experimented with a number of designs in the past, including ones that could clip onto clothing, like an iPod shuffle. Currently though the company is thought to have returned to a wrist-wrapped device, likely the iWatch.


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It is a bold move for a company to launch a brand-new vehicle in the midst of a pandemic but that is exactly what Indus Motors (PSX: INDU) did. In fact, the country was going into strict lockdowns and factories were temporarily ordered to be shut down by the government as Toyota Yaris was introduced to the market. Surprisingly, Indus Motors actually sold over 1300 units of the model in May and June. This also summarizes the biggest automakers’ outgoing financial year—down but still very much in the game.
Earnings during FY20 for the company dropped 63 percent after a marked decline in volumes and consequently the top line. But unlike its peer Honda Atlas, Indus Motors still turned a profit and managed to give its shareholders a final payout of 70 percent in addition to the interim dividend of 230 percent.
There was a substantial reduction in volumes (down 57 percent) due to reduced demand. Some blame could be levied on the lockdown months where plants were shut down but that was a mere case of bad timing becoming worse. Loss in demand was a long time coming and a direct result of a slowing down economy.
Bad economic fundamentals meant purchasing power had shrunk, inflation was high, bank borrowing was high which together chipped away at car buying prospects. It also did not help that car prices sky-rocketed over the past two years since the rupee took a hit against the dollar. Though demand persevered for nearly a year of this economic climate—as Toyota buyers are typically well-off and any changes in income and prices have delayed effects on their demand—consumers finally caught onto these factors and demand decelerated.
Monthly Toyota sales over the past five years show volumes have remained between 3000 and 6000 until Jul-19 when sales suddenly dropped below 2000 units, further down in August and recovered only slowly the successive months.
The drop in revenues of 45 percent in FY20 however was lower than the volumetric decline—as revenue per unit sold rose to 26 percent. Despite price hikes, margins seemingly could not be shielded as input costs due to higher import costs (rupee depreciation) and inflationary pressures locally all led to a higher cost of production.
Overheads took up nearly 4 percent of the revenue stream during the year (FY19: ~2%) which together with slightly higher finance costs—0.1 percent of revenue in FY20 against 0.04 percent of revenue in the preceding year—sliced the bottom-line.
Undoubtedly, this the lowest profits the company has earned over the past five years while a dividend per share of Rs30 during the year against Rs115 in FY19 and Rs140 in FY18 are not exactly confidence boosting. But the worse might be over. Post-corona, Toyota has few challenges ahead. Until such a time when real competitors in combustion engines and electric vehicles step into the domain, Toyota has a strong market presence and a brand loyalty to boot. Since prices of cars across the board have been raised, consumers will just have to cough up extra for the same cars—but if history is any guide, they would do so gladly.


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Travellers looking for a festive US city break are being encouraged to consider Chicago, which is set to offer a range of Christmassy experiences which will leave visitors “dazzled”.
Chicago’s culture and tourism office has highlighted a variety of reasons to visit the city over the winter period, starting with that most essential of Christmas ceremonies, the lighting of the city’s tree. The 98th annual tree-lighting event will take place on 23 November in Daley Plaza, attracting thousands of visitors. The Plaza also offers a traditional German-style Christmas market, allowing visitors to pick up some handmade Christmas gifts, ornaments and treats while enjoying festive food and drinks from the varied stalls. Goulash, potato pancakes and mulled wine were all said to be available, keeping shoppers toasty while they browse the markets.
Chicago’s Millennium Park will be offering skating fans a free rink over the festive season, opening between 11 November and 11 March, depending on weather conditions. Although the rink itself is free, skaters without skates will be charged $10 for rental. The rink in Millennium Park is now in its 11th year and is visited by over 100,000 open-air skaters every year.
Another festive event in the city well worth a visit is the annual Winter Wonderfest, also running in its 11th year. The 170,000 square foot attraction boasts inflatable slides, rides, seasonal displays and a range of other attractions. The Winter Wonderfest will be open between 2 December and 8 January at Chicago’s Navy Pier.


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Honda Motor Co. says it is “recalling 1.35 million Fit subcompact cars globally to fix defective wiring in the headlights.” (Tokyo AP, 12/16). The recall will affect just shy of 150,000 cars in the United States, as well as over 700,000 cars in Japan. Honda has not released numbers for the European and Asian recalls, and say not accidents have resulted from the recall.
Chrysler and Volkswagen also issued large recalls. The Chrysler recall affects the 2008 Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans because of a leak near the heating and air conditioner.
Volkswagen says its recall affects “2007-2009 model year Golf, Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Rabbit and 2006-2010 New Beetle small cars [due to a] small plastic tab in the windshield wiper fluid reservoir could rub against a fuel supply line under the hood. A fuel leak could develop and lead to fires.” (Washington AP, 12/15).
As a Chicago car and truck accident lawyer, I always encourage consumers to act quickly on recalled vehicles. Especially during this holiday season, when long road trips are common, please ensure your vehicles are safe.


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Microsoft really wants people to get on the Windows 10 bandwagon, so much so that the company plans to start automatically downloading its new operating system to some users’ computers next year.
In a new blog post, Microsoft Executive Vice President Terry Myerson said the company plans to push Windows 10 as a recommended update through Windows Update sometime next year, after rolling it out through the service as an optional update “soon.” That means those PC users who have applied Microsoft’s suggested update settings will automatically download the update when the company makes the switch.
That’s an aggressive move from Microsoft, especially given the outcry earlier this month after the company did the same thing accidentally. Users who’ve gotten the download will still be able to opt out before it’s installed on the device, and they can roll back the upgrade for as long as 31 days after making the switch to the new OS, so that’s some consolation.
It’s a particularly raw deal for people who are on metered Internet connections. Windows 8.1 users aren’t in danger there, because that OS won’t automatically download updates over a metered connection. But Windows 7 users will have to turn off automatic downloads of all recommended updates in order to avoid downloading multiple gigabytes worth of operating system.
All this is part of Microsoft’s move to make Windows 10 more easily available. Starting today, people who reserve a copy of the new operating system will have it immediately downloaded to their devices rather than having to wait as they did in the OS’s early days.
Microsoft has said that it expects 1 billion devices to be running Windows 10 in three years, and it seems that this is a part of that strategy. What remains to be seen is how well users will take having an update they don’t necessarily want pushed at them more aggressively.


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AMD plans to launch a bundle of mobile chipsets, code-named "Puma”, to keep up with Intel's "Santa Rosa" notebook system.
AMD will create Puma by combining a mobile processor called "Griffin" with a new RS780 chipset to allow PC vendors to build notebooks with better power management, memory efficiency and processor bandwidth than the current generation of Turion processors can achieve. It will also allow vendors to combine Griffin chips with third-party chipsets, although those systems would forfeit some power management features.
AMD hopes the Puma system will tighten its grasp on part of the hard-won notebook PC market, which was loosened on 9 May when Intel launched the Santa Rosa upgrade to its popular Centrino notebook PC platform. However, the company will have to overcome Intel's lead in bringing the product to market. AMD won't begin shipping full volumes of the parts to PC vendors until the end of 2007, so Puma notebooks will not reach store shelves until the middle of 2008.
Despite the delay, Puma will have certain advantages over Intel's new Centrino Duo and Centrino Pro, such as an ability to process Microsoft's DirectX 10 graphics, compared to the DirectX 9 standard supported by Santa Rosa systems, one analyst said. Both platforms will handle HD-DVD and Blu-Ray high-definition video and HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) streaming.
Those features could allow AMD to build on its recent success in the server and consumer markets and reach for a greater slice of the lucrative business notebook segment, said Samir Bhavnani, director of research at Current Analysis West.


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20x20 Sustainability Plan
Annual Report 2014
We've launched a new campaign which explains a new approach to pricing for customers. This is the result of an 18 month commitment by the business to lower the regular prices of products across the grocery business.
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Our analyst presentation kicks off at 8:30am (BST). Register and listen here http://t.co/hi6YGwZJN6 #JSQ2 $SBRY
about 3 hours ago
We’ve just published our Q2 trading statement for the 16 weeks to 27 September 2014 http://t.co/m97eUSuVJT #JSQ2
about 19 hours ago
This Bolognese Pasta Bake looks too good to not try.... http://t.co/PpoqufBGRM via @Juliemcpher #OrganicSeptember pic.twitter.com/X7RitD2n2u
© J Sainsbury plc 2014


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Chicago venture firm Lightbank comes to New York
- Staff New York Business Journal
The three-year-old company said its New York presence will support plans to grow its investments in companies based in the East Coast region in the coming years, reflecting the increasing amount of venture capital flowing into the region's startups. The firm will continue to focus on early-stage tech companies, with areas of particular interest including e-commerce, media and health.
"New York is an active and diverse tech hub that has produced many remarkable companies, and we look forward to collaborating with great entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses," Lightbank co-founder Brad Keywell said in a statement. "The New York tech community has deep roots in spaces like e-commerce and media that align with our expertise. By being on the ground, we strengthen our ability to help emerging tech startups develop and scale their businesses."
Since 2010, Lightbank has invested in more than 50 early-stage tech startups across the country, with nearly 20 percent of its portfolio located on the East Coast, including Frank & Oak, Contently, Centzy, Bevel, Ovuline and OnSwipe. In addition, Keywell and Lefkofsky co-founded New York-based MediaOcean and InnerWorkings (Nasdaq: INWK).
"The New York technology community surrounds its entrepreneurs with resources beyond just capital," said Keywell. "There is the government's support, collaboration from large organizations, many world-class conferences and events, hackathons, as well as an increasing number of co-working spaces and accelerators, which all work together to create an ecosystem that we are excited to join."
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Former Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) CTO Iain Patterson is set to return to the Government Digital Service in the role of director of common technology services (CTS). The return of Patterson,...
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The US Federal Reserve raised its main interest rate on Wednesday by a quarter of a percentage point to 1.5% - a move that came as no surprise to market participants and left the dollar weaker on the day.
As expected, the Fed's open market committee (FOMC) raised its Fed funds rate from 1.25% to 1.5% at its final meeting of the year, and chair Janet Yellen's final press briefing before Jerome Powell takes the hot seat.
It appeared to remain without conviction that the FOMC persisted in this final rate hike of 2017 - a year that has seen three upward moves in the Fed funds rate from 0.75% to 1.5%.
While the FOMC has been keen to note the robust nature of economic recovery in the US, thanks to rising global demand, it had always been with underlying caution over the depressed rate of inflation.
Headline consumer prices rose at an annual rate of 2.2% in November, data published earlier on Wednesday showed, up from 2% in October.
Retail sales have been strong in recent months, despite the effects of summer hurricanes, and later this week November sales, which take in the post-Thanksgiving shopping spree, are expected to show further growth.
Yet, the Fed remains perturbed by the lack of momentum in personal consumption expenditure (PCE), its favoured measure of inflation, which stands at 1.4% - well below the Fed’s 2% target rate.
This was, again, reflected in the FOMC's statement accompanying the rate hike.


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Fast-growing builders merchant Selco Builders Warehouse launched its Project Tool app at the end of last year, allowing those working in the trade to manage multiple work projects at the same time through their mobile devices.
The latest development offers Selco customers the chance to not only create project lists and quotes while on the go, but also complete purchases through their smartphone.
The app is free to download on both iOS and Android devices.
Carine Jessamine, Selco’s marketing director, said: “We have been hugely encouraged by the popularity of the app amongst people in the trade since it was launched four months ago, and the feedback we have received.
“We are always looking at ways that we can make the lives of those people working in the trade easier, and offering a transactional option on the app was the next step.
“It means customers can utilise our 30 minute Click and Collect service through their smartphones and enables them to get on to their next job as quickly as possible.
“The app has also removed the logistical headache of manually preparing quotes and sending them to customers, and now the whole process can be completed in the click of just a few buttons.”
The app features Selco’s complete range of stocked products, with tradespeople given the option to draw up lists of materials they will need for jobs, request a price from in-branch staff and create and send a quote to their customers.
It also allows customers to locate their nearest Selco branch and benefit from a materials calculator.
In addition to an ever-growing digital presence, Selco Builders Warehouse currently has 61 branches and is rapidly expanding across the UK.


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We are delighted and honored to have been shortlisted for the 2010 Drapers Etail Awards in two different categories – Best Customer Experience and Best Pure-play Etailer. Now in it’s second year, the Drapers Etail Awards, recognise and celebrate success and innovation in online fashion retailing. This shows how much we have grown over the years and we would like to thank all our customers for their continued loyalty and support. Posted by Roger Martin for Stand Out.
Standout.co.uk has been shortlisted for 2 Drapers Etail Awards!


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Costco is changing one of the safety measures it put in place to help keep members and employees safe after the COVID-19 pandemic began more than two years ago. According to Costco’s website, the special shopping hour is on the verge of being phased out after an announcement in mid-March. On Monday, April 18, the company will resume normal activities.
In March 2020, the warehouse chain began offering special shopping hours to those who the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deemed to be most at risk for COVID-19 at the time. Since July 20, 2021, most clubs have had Tuesday and Thursday hours of 9 to 10 a.m.
The hours were originally designed for first responders, elders, those with disabilities, and people who are too unwell to shop in the warehouse without crowds. Many grocery stores across the country had implemented similar senior hours to allow more vulnerable people to buy in-store. As the number of instances has decreased, retailers are rethinking their COVID-19 safeguards.
The decision to eliminate the unique operation hours sparked some debate. Costco said in the summer of 2020 that the special hour would be reduced to two days per week from five, but reversed its decision a few weeks later as COVID-19 cases increased. A year later, in July, the chain stated it was eliminating the incentive entirely, only to reverse course later that month due to new pandemic cases. This appears to be Costco’s ultimate decision, with COVID-19 cases stable and the termination date nearing.


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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B) just made a significant $377 million investment in an Arizona Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
The recipient of the investment is Store Capital (NYSE: STOR), an owner of single-tenant buildings. The company owns 1,750 properties valued at more than $5.5 billion.
[ad#Google Adsense 336×280-IA]Berkshire Hathaway had been in occasional discussions with Store Capital management for the past couple of years.
Ten days ago, Berkshire investment manager Todd Weschler called Store Capital to suggest a financing.
The reason? The share price was down, and shares were attractively priced.
Prior to news of Berkshire’s investment, Store Capital stock had posted a YTD decline of 16%.
There were increasing concerns that the company’s business would feel pressure from Amazon’s continued dominance in the retail sector.
While the company’s name might suggest that it’s in the retail real estate business, that isn’t the case. Less than 20% of the company’s properties are for retail.
The vast majority of properties are related to the service sector: preschools, health clubs, movie theaters and pet-care facilities.
Store Capital acts as a financing partner for smaller companies that can’t afford to buy and manage their own properties. Unlike most landlords, Store Capital pays the operating expenses of the properties, including taxes, maintenance and insurance.
Instead of purchasing shares on the public market, Berkshire bought 18.9 million shares of common stock in a private placement. That gives Warren Buffett ownership of nearly 10% of the company.
The price per share in the Warren Buffett purchase was $20.25, a small 2% discount to previous closing price of $20.77.
Once the Warren Buffett purchase was public, Store Capital shares immediately jumped 11%.
Buffett Sends REIT Shares Surging 11%
Store Capital hasn’t been the only REIT to underperform recently.
REITs and the Risk of Rising Interest Rates
Over the last year, REITs have been lagging the overall stock market.
The SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (NYSE: RWR) is a popular ETF that includes some of the biggest REITs.
In the last year, the ETF is down 3.2% compared with a 19.9% gain for the S&P 500 Index.
The primary reason is risk of rising interest rates.
REITs are more sensitive to interest rates than other stocks. The reason is that REITs rely heavily on borrowed money to fund their purchases of real estate properties.
So, when interest rates rise, their cost of capital goes up. And therefore, the profits can decline unless they are able to offset rising costs with higher rental revenue.
Warren Buffett Purchase: A Signal on REITs
For REITs with long-term leases on things like office space, this can be a problem. For REITs that have shorter-term leases ̶ such as apartments, storage units, or hotels ̶ this is less of a concern.
The Warren Buffett purchase means he and Berkshire Hathaway seem to think the REIT selloff is overdone. Now could be a great time to buy up other top REITs before they see their shares take off.
— Ian Wyatt
Source: Wyatt Investment Research


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The Award winning Beauty Pageant returns to London on Saturday 10th December 2011.
“From the serene beaches of South Africa, to the vast landscapes of the Majestic Kingdom of Swaziland, across the savannah planes to the meeting of ocean and desert in Namibia and onwards to the rich culture and Kalahari desert in Botswana and the pinnacle meeting point of the big 5 at the famous smoking waters of Victoria falls. This package includes Lake Malawi, and the ultimate African paradise which is Mauritius to the unexplored beaches of Mozambique,”.
The Miss Southern Africa UK is about charisma, eloquence, charm, intelligence, beauty, strength and determination. She is a woman that shines as a role model and ambassador to the community.
Already in its 7th year the beauty pageant’s main purpose is to create International awareness about Southern African people – their culture, traditions and colourful & vibrant fashion styles, and music.
CMG is merging Miss Southern Africa UK with a Cultural Showcase which will entail Live Music, Fashion, Poetry, Dancing and stand up Comedy.
This event has grown into a Global brand, now with more than 6 countries running the franchise. One of the aspirations of Miss Southern Africa is to bring people from all walks of life together and celebrate the beauty and shared culture of Southern Africa.
Ms Glorienne Francis the UK Director of Miss Southern Africa said “what makes the event more interesting and more recognised was the fact that Southern Africa is a land of rich cultural diversity”. she said the “Miss Southern Africa UK event will focus on celebrating this culture, tourism and the natural beauty presented by the African region”.
“We intend to focus on all of these unique aspects which make Southern Africa the untouched and undeniably beautiful hotspot for Africa,” she added.
The winner of Miss Southern Africa 2011 will take upon a role of being an ambassador for Southern Africa Action for Change (S.A.A.C) www.sa-ac.org.uk a charity which we are patrons of MSA International.
Tickets can be purchased via a secure online website: www.miss-southernafrica.co.uk – 079 3294 9212.


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Cable advertising types worried about losing ground to online video may be heartened to know that cable ads are cheaper than online ads, according to data compiled by media research firm SQAD.
SQAD, based in Tarrytown, N.Y., bills itself as "the largest independent source in the U.S. for TV, radio and digital costs and analysis."
By comparing four media bases--display, cable TV, network TV and in-stream video--SQAD determined "the average CPM for an in-stream online video advertisement in 2013 was $23.03, or 38 percent higher than the average A18-49 CPM for cable TV." The research determined that network TV was the most expensive advertising medium.
The average cost of a primetime cable TV ad increased by 5 percent in 2013 to $15.63. Online, the most money went to TV network websites with NBCUniversal, CBS Television and ABC Television averaging a CPM rate of about $30 for online ads.
The research does not all bode well for cable.
"In many cases, online premium inventory is still somewhat limited so it's not that surprising that rates are high right now," SQD CEO Neil Klar said in a press release.
If anything, the data may offset some sky-is-falling predictions such as those posited in a Wall Street Journal blog that suggested Web video outlets "see vulnerability in second tier cable networks" and are working on one-on-one comparisons between the Web and cable TV.
YouTube and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) were among the more aggressive online players hoping to ding cable's ad business. The blog post said that Google was the more aggressive of the pair and "has been selling directly against cable networks."
A cable executive conceded that online video advertising is "competitive" but called it "more complementary at this point."
Colleen Whitney, media director for North American video at Digitas, was more succinct.
"You are absolutely seeing them sell aggressively against cable more than ever before," she said.
Amanda Richman, president of Publicis Groupe's Starcom, however, noting the SQAD research, said that cable's lower price still gives it the advantage even though "there's been a steady drumbeat toward Web video, which offers more fluidity."
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PEKIN, Ill. -- People from all over the country showed off their hottest rides at the 30th annual V8 Car Show Saturday afternoon.
More than 100 cars from the years 1912 to 2013 were on display at the Avanti's Dome.
Organizers said this show marks the start of the "car season" for many enthusiasts.
Those attending the show were able to vote for their favorite cars.
"Dad likes it because he remembers the old cars, and his kids like it because it is something they don't see every day," said car show organizer, Jerry Haven. "Mom will like it too sometimes. We try to make it a good-time show."
Proceeds from the show will benefit Children's Hospital of Illinois.
Last year, the show raised $3,000. Organizers hope to raise even more this year.


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Ted Baker fights off threat of the online upstarts: Fashion group targets shoppers who want affordable luxury
Ted Baker is fighting the threat of low-cost online upstarts by targeting shoppers who want affordable luxury.
The fashion group said prioritising quality and not overselling its garments had helped it avoid the pitfalls of its competitors, which have struggled against competition from the likes of Boohoo and Asos.
Customers turned to the retailer for wedding dresses, golf wear and specialist summer and tall ranges as its laissez-faire approach to marketing proved popular, helping sales to rocket across its stores and online platform.
Fashion sense: Ted Baker said prioritising quality and not overselling its garments had helped it avoid the pitfalls of its competitors
Ted Baker's retail sales jumped 14.2 per cent in the 19 week period to June 10 while online sales soared 35.9 per cent.
Wholesale sales for the period increased 13.8 per cent.
The firm however did not reveal like-for-like sales – sales in stores open more than a year – which are widely considered to be a better barometer of performance.
- Ted Baker sells wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and groomsman suits. Its Teala embellished bodice bridal dress sells for £1,500
- ts range of golf clothing includes a Geo print bomber jacket which sells for £239
- The Colour By Numbers range boasts bright clothing for women. Its popular yellow, red and white Ardell shift dress sells for £159
- And its T for Tall range is for men taller than 6 foot 3. Suit jackets range from £185 to £339
Ray Kelvin, founder and chief executive, said the brand had performed strongly in the period because it didn't try too hard.
He said: 'We don't make ourselves so readily available, we don't oversell and we're not hungry for profit.'
He added that the firm had been cautious in its approach to expansion, opting against aggressively planting shops in favour of opening branches in niche and relevant markets.
The move saw Ted Baker open stores in Los Angeles, Paris and Shanghai in the period and further concession outlets in department stores in France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands and the UK.
George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said Ted Baker's controlled store expansion had 'translated into some lucrative results for shareholders'.
Fashion retailers are dealing with a fall in spending as shoppers become more cautious in the face of rising inflation.
Data from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG showed growth in online sales of non-food products fell to the lowest level since records began in May adding 4.3 per cent last month compared to a 13.7 per cent spike in 2016.
Separate figures from Barclaycard showed consumer spending growth had fallen to a 10-month low of 2.8 per cent in May.
But Kelvin said Ted Baker is not worried about its competitors and is reaping the benefits of the middle-market retail 'sweet spot'.
Meanwhile 22 PER CENT of shareholders voted against the re-election of chairman David Bernstein at the annual meeting yesterday.
It is believed the protest vote was due to the chairman's position on the finance and audit committee.
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