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Honda Stays True to Efficient Driving
TORRANCE, Calif. — During the glory days of big pickups and sport utility vehicles, one automaker steadfastly refused to join the party.
Despite the huge profits that its competitors were minting by making larger vehicles, Honda Motor never veered from its mission of building fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly cars like its Accord sedan.
“I remember being at the Tokyo Motor Show in the mid-1990s and talking about the environment,” said Ben Knight, head of engineering at Honda’s North American division. “The reaction was there’s no return on that.”
But in today’s fuel-conscious automotive market, Honda is reaping the rewards for its commitment.
No major automaker in America is doing better than Honda, whose sales are up 3 percent for the first seven months of this year in a market that has fallen 11 percent. By comparison, General Motors is down nearly 18 percent, Ford Motor has dropped 14 percent, and Toyota has slid 7 percent.
While competitors are scrambling to shift their product lineups to build more small vehicles and slash their bloated inventories of trucks, Honda can barely keep up with demand, particularly in the subcompact category.
Sales of its tiny Fit have soared 79 percent so far this year, and interest in the vehicle is so strong that Honda accelerated the introduction of the 2009 model, which will go on sale Tuesday.
The Fit’s four-cylinder engine gets 34 miles per gallon in highway driving, but the quirky little hatchback does not scrimp on creature comforts. The base model — which sells for $15,200, including delivery charges — has a satellite-linked navigation system and safety features like side-curtain airbags.
Honda’s focus on fuel efficiency is paying off on the bottom line as well. The Japanese automaker reported a record profit of 179.61 billion yen ($1.68 billion), during its fiscal first quarter that ended in June, an 8.1 percent jump from the previous year.
By comparison, G.M. and Ford have lost billions this year as the market has moved away from the big vehicles that once generated the bulk of their profits. Detroit is moving radically to downsize its vehicle lineups and, in Ford’s case, to convert assembly plants from making trucks to small cars.
Even Honda’s larger Japanese rival, Toyota, is hustling to adjust to the rapidly changing United States market.
Toyota dedicated its latest American assembly plant in Texas to building full-size pickups. Honda’s newest factory, in southern Indiana, is set to begin production of Civic compact cars this fall.
Honda’s focus on fuel efficiency and the environmental impact of its vehicles dates back to the Clean Air legislation of the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Knight, the head of Honda engineering in North America, recalled how Honda adopted an internal motto — “Blue skies for our children” — as a guideline for future vehicle development.
“The discussions inside the company have always been consistent,” said Mr. Knight, who joined the company in 1976.
Honda has posted the highest corporate average fuel economy of any automaker for its overall fleet of vehicles over the last 15 years, according to federal statistics.
The fuel economy of its cars is comparable to Toyota, but Honda has never aspired to build a full line of trucks and S.U.V.’s.
Its lineup includes the midsize Ridgeline pickup, as well as lighter weight, car-based crossover vehicles like the CR-V, Element and Pilot.
“Honda is a philosophy-driven company,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president of Honda North America. “Even when the large S.U.V.’s and trucks were big sellers, they did not fit with our philosophy.”
Honda’s dealers pressed the company in recent years to build a full-size pickup and introduce a V-8 engine, said Dan Bonawitz, head of corporate planning in the United States.
“We kept asking ourselves what value Honda would bring to the customer in that category,” he said. “There was just no benefit for us to get in it.”
Sales of Honda’s crossovers, minivans and pickups have dropped this year along with the overall market. But the surge in sales of its cars has more than made up for the shortfall.
Unlike many other automakers, Honda has been able to capitalize on the switch in demand to cars because of the flexibility of its assembly plants.
At Honda’s plant in East Liberty, Ohio, for example, the assembly line can switch almost seamlessly from Civics to CR-Vs.
When the new plant goes into production in Indiana, Honda’s North American production capacity will increase to 1.4 million vehicles a year to meet the growing demand for its small cars.
“We had a very good May and June with sales of the Civic, but July and August have been terrible because of a shortage of stock,” Mr. Iwamura said. “But by October, the supply situation will be improved a great deal.”
Other automakers are also increasing production of their small cars, but Honda is cashing in on its reputation for the reliability, fuel efficiency and handling of its vehicles.
“Honda’s cars seem to have more personality than Toyota’s,” said Aaron Bragman, an analyst with the research firm Global Insight in Troy, Mich. “Their cars are enjoyable to drive, and not just appliances.”
Meghan Bohnert of Festus, Mo., recently traded in her Toyota Corolla for a Fit because it “stood out” from other cars in the subcompact segment. “People I know think the car is cute and it surprises them with its pep,” said Ms. Bohnert, a 24-year-old analyst for AT&T. “People are also surprised at the amount of interior space.”
Even with the success of its smallest cars, Honda executives concede that the company has some catching up to do with Toyota in hybrid vehicles.
While Honda offers a hybrid version of the Civic, Toyota’s Prius model is the runaway leader in the category.
But Honda recently announced plans to introduce a five-door, hybrid-only model in North America next year to compete with the Prius. Honda is expected to price the vehicle lower than the Prius to attract younger buyers.
Honda is also planning a two-door, sporty hybrid and a hybrid version of the Fit.
At its headquarters here in Torrance, the vehicle that draws the most attention these days is the company’s hydrogen-powered, fuel-cell vehicle dubbed the FCX Clarity.
The company recently began a program to lease the fuel-cell car to a small number of consumers in California. Executives declined to predict when the car will be available for the mass market, but said it represents the next step for a company committed to clean technology.
“We have a saying that we want to make Honda the company that society wants to exist,” Mr. Iwamura said.


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BMW Profits Signal Strain on German Car Market
March 19 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Chad Thomas reports that BMW forecast 2013 pretax profit at the same level as 2012 as European auto sales drop. He speaks on Bloomberg Television's "The Pulse."
Most Recent Videos
Saywell: Attractive Entry Level to Be Long Sterling
22:43 - Steven Saywell, global head of FX strategy at BNP Paribas, discusses the decline of the British pound and why he expects a short-term pull back in the U.S. dollar. He speaks on "Bloomberg Surveillance." (Source: Bloomberg)

domain: news


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Two Million Downloads For The Beta Version Of Office 201024th January 2010
It has been expected by Microsoft that the sales of the Office 2010 will be very strong when the shipment of the productivity suit would be done during this year. It would be based upon which is called by the company to be record interest in the product`s beta version. The users had been downloading trial copies whose number is greater than two million. In only seven weeks, these downloads have reached to this huge number as said by Rachel Boni, who is the general manager of Microsoft Corporation.
It has been said by Bondi that record interest as well as the use has been generated by the beta version of the Office 2010. it has also surpassed all of the previous download rates of the beta version of the Office 2007. Bondi further said that when we look at this, we come to know that there had been a rate of 40,000 of downloads in one day.
A boost can be used by the sales of the Microsoft Office. The sales of these products to the customers have plunged 34 percent in the recent quarters of the year, where as the sales of the enterprise have gone down by 4 percent because some of the companies have opted for the offerings that were less expensive and have got it from Google and many of the other competitors of Microsoft Corp.
Cyber Thieves Got Into The Bank Account Of The School Lauch Of Touchscreen Mini PC By Hewlett-Packard


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As students found out this week, the Coffee Bené shop inside the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library will not accept flex dollars.
Early reports from university sources claimed that both flex and eXpress would be accepted.
Director of Library Services Dan Gjelten addressed the issue.
“Yeah we’re going to use eXpress,” Gjelten said. “But it was never our intention to use flex.”
Manager Molly Krueger said the coffee shop can’t accept flex because it is an off-campus vendor.
“We were never planning on taking it,” Krueger said. “We actually can’t because we’re not owned by St. Thomas.”
Krueger claimed rumors of flex being accepted spread when Coffee Bené’s card machine was broken.
“Some people who have flex got away with it because they were writing [their account numbers] down,” Krueger said, adding that she accepted payments from a St. Thomas ID because she wasn’t aware of flex.
Freshman Sara Nordstrom is one student who used her card to buy coffee.
“I paid with eXpress, but I would prefer flex,” Nordstrom said. “That would be really nice.”
Freshman Allye Goodson said she is grateful that the coffee shop takes eXpress.
“It’s just easier because you have your card with you all the time … you don’t always have cash,” Goodson said.
Zach Pagano and Miles Trump contributed to this report.
Kelly Trussell can be reached at email@example.com


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Jewelry sold at popular retailers could contain dangerous levels of cancer-causing toxic chemicals, according to an analysis by a non-profit environmental group.
The Ecology Center and Healthystuff.org report that 59% of low-cost jewelry sold at stores like Walmart, Kohl’s, Forever 21, H&M, Hot Topic and Target, contained one or more chemicals considered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to be a hazard to human health at high levels. Of 99 pieces of jewelry analyzed by X-ray fluorescence for the presence of these chemicals, 27% contained greater than the 300 parts-per-million (ppm) limit for lead set by CPSC for use by children, and 13% contained greater than 100 ppm of arsenic, which has been linked to bladder, kidney, lung, liver and prostate cancers following repeated exposure. Other compounds that appeared in the analysis included cadmium, a toxic metal used in electroplating processes and in battery production that can build up in the kidneys and impair kidney function and contribute to reproductive abnormalities and lung cancer.
The CPSC says young children should not be exposed to these compounds, since swallowing or sucking on the pieces could increase their exposure and make them vulnerable to health problems.
But young children are the primary target of the inexpensive jewelry studied, and their increasing risk of exposure to these toxic compounds has led consumers to push for stricter laws regulating chemicals in commercial products. In April 2011, Sen. Frank Lautenberg introduced a bill to upgrade the Toxic Substances Control Act, which would increase the testing of commonly used chemicals and better inform the public about potential hazards of the compounds in everyday products. Advocates hope the bill will move to a vote in the Senate this year. Until then, even if your children (or you) are a fan of inexpensive bling, it’s probably a good idea to keep the accessorizing to a minimum.


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Last week on the Internet, thanks to a website called BirdAbroad, we discovered that a fake Apple Store had appeared in China. It all begun last week, when the website published photos from a store named "Apple Store," selling Apple gadgets. At first look, everything seemed legit. But this is China, the global leader in fake things, and also the place where most original electronic devices are manufactured. Link those two things and you come up with a nice cocktail. From the photos we see that all employees of the store respected Apple rules and wore a blue t-shirt and Apple tags around their necks. Inside everything was as perfect as it is inside a genuine Apple store, including the way devices were situated and employees hovered near customers.
An employee admitted the store is unauthorized, Apple confirmed it, and Reuters said customers want their receipts: When they brought a product, employees told them to come back later for them. A total rip off? In China there are no laws to deny the use of copyrighted materials. One employee said, "There is no Chinese law that says I can't decorate my shop the way I want to decorate it." As for the products that are being sold there, he added, "the media is painting us to be a fake store but we don't sell fakes, all our products are real, you can check it yourself." Sources: Reuters, BirdAbroad


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Bill Wilson is greatly relieved that Illinois has finally launched its program to allow dispensaries to sell marijuana for medical purposes.
Wilson suffers from bulging discs and arthritis of the spine. "I've never smoked pot in my life, [but] taking pills all the time, it's eating up my stomach. It's terrible," Wilson told FOX News in Chicago.
Beginning today, eight dispensaries will be licensed to sell products, with the program expanding to 60 by the end of the year.
It's part of the state's four-year Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, which was launched in 2013. To qualify, patients must get a note from a doctor which says they have one of 40 approved conditions. They also must submit finger prints and undergo criminal record checks, stipulations that have been harshly criticized by cannabis advocates.
Here's the FOX News report on today's developments:


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Verizon Fios quietly adds Netflix integration to three set-top box models
See the original posting on The Verge
Verizon Fios has for the first time integrated Netflix into its set-top boxes, according to a Netflix customer support page first spotted this week by industry blog FierceCable. The addition, which is supported by models IPC1100P2, IPC1100P1, and the VMS1100 DVR set-top box, means Fios customers now have native access to the streaming TV service from directly within the cable interface, obviating the need to use a smart TVs built-in app with a different remote, or to have a streaming TV stick plugged in.
Verizon isnt the first cable provider to do this. Comcast and Dish have integrated Netflix into cable boxes before, with Comcast most recently working with Netflix to add 4K streaming to its Xfinity X1 set-top box. It appears Verizon…


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Internet Infrastructure Demand Rises during COVID-19 Pandemic by 30 Percent
With millions bound to their homes due to the pandemic, people are moving most of their activities to the digital space, which has tremendously increased global usage of the internet network.
Internet infrastructure has experienced significant growth in demand due to the increased amount of people confined to their homes, consequently working and shopping remotely due to the enforced precautionary measures.
Having most of our daily activities migrating to the digital space, internet infrastructure is being strained by the sheer amount of users. As a result, e-commerce has been booming as many stores remain shut due to safety policies. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in subscription-based digital services, as out-of-home entertainment is no longer a viable option.
Internet service providers are extending data caps to meet the newfound reliance on the network. However, some experts express uncertainty concerning internet infrastructure’s ability to keep up with the rapidly growing demand.
“The amount of time people are spending online, whether it be for work or leisure, has been immense, which is not surprising, considering all the restrictions that have been enforced,” says Vincentas Grinius, CEO of Heficed.
“In pursuance to maintain stability, the demand for internet servers has risen by at least 30 percent, and, based on how the current events are developing, the need to accommodate the reliance will only continue to grow,” adds Mr. Grinius.
According to Mr. Grinius, Heficed has accumulated enough server stock supply to meet the current demand and lessen the strain on the infrastructure, as a wide range of hardware is kept in storage facilities throughout the US and Europe. Furthermore, Heficed is encouraging companies to lease their unused IP resources via the IP Address Market to facilitate more support for ISPs and others in need of network infrastructure.
Current events have revealed how well businesses are prepared to accommodate a remote workforce. Business VPNs that give workers direct access to their company’s system through a private network have been overwhelmed by employee usage. High-capacity VPNs are essential for companies seeking to continue their work, as organizations that are less equipped will eventually succumb to the increased load. Adapting a highly developed network infrastructure, such as offered by Heficed, can aid in handling the escalating use and help maintain operational stability.
The Internet may need to strengthen its backbone, as the ever-growing online activity has attracted a new wave of cyberattacks. Novel threats are targeting internet users in an attempt to retrieve sensitive data. Heficed offers abuse management as part of their service package, seeking to combat any malicious activity directed at their clients' resources.
The present state of affairs has highlighted some of the weaknesses concerning the current network infrastructure, however, implementing some additional measures to improve its stability may prevent companies from compromising their operations and ensure they continue to work during the pandemic.
Headquartered in London, Heficed provides full-range services for IP lease, monetization, and management services. Heficed serves around 60 multi-billion industries starting from hosting to automotive or healthcare. With millions of IP addresses and 12 years of industry experience and operations globally, Heficed can meet any demand needs. That includes automated provisioning bare-metal solutions and cloud services in 9 locations around the world.


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Modern Retail Evolution, Omnichannel
Why omnichannel is so important.
Retail moves fast, and the definition of “modern” retailing is continually evolving. Just a couple of years ago the hot topic was showrooming, and a few years before that everyone was talking about the boom of e-commerce. Today, modern retail means omnichannel — regardless of the business or how it sells. Modern retail goes beyond minding the store — it’s building a brand that engages and serves customers seamlessly both online and offline.
Because with technology always at their fingertips, consumers live omnichannel every day. Retailers must transform their businesses to embrace this new reality.
The National Retail Federation NRF Foundation and KPMG LLP are excited to spotlight this transformational shift in retailing. In this report, they’ve gathered examples from research and facts from various government resources, the media, and retail industry reports, to highlight how consumers, technology and innovation are shaping retail.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- General Motors Corp. said Tuesday its directors voted to halve both the company's $2 annual dividend and its chief executive's compensation to save cash while the automaker grapples with soaring costs and waning market share.
"These are difficult decisions that involve sacrifices by our employees, stockholders, retirees, and the senior leadership team," said Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner.
"However, we are confronting a dramatic change in our industry and in the global competitive environment, and that requires us to look for additional ways to reduce financial risk and improve our competitiveness for the long term," he added.
The stock, which had risen more than 20% so far this year after losing half its value in 2004, shed 53 cents to close at $22.81.
The lowered dividend, widely expected on Wall Street, reduces GM's cash outlay by $565 million a year. The company will now pay out 25 cents a share on March 10 to shareholders of record on Feb. 16. GM had been paying out a 50 cent per-share quarterly dividend since March 1997.
The dividend cut is the first since 1992, when the company lost a record $23.5 billion, due in part to accounting changes.
The $2 dividend had indicated a yield on GM stock of more than 8%, the highest of any Dow Jones Industrial Average component.
The prior yield was also the highest of the 387 issues in the S&P 500 that pay a cash dividend. The new yield of 4.3% puts GM at No. 37. The ratings agency said it expects 2006 to be a record year for total payouts, despite GM's cutback.
Aside from dividend news, the Detroit giant also plans to halve the compensation for outside board members. GM said it will reduce certain executive salaries, most notably Wagoner's compensation.
In 2004, General Motors paid Wagoner $2.2 million in salary and almost $2.5 million in bonuses.
York's on board
GM on Monday named Jerry York, an aide to billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, to the board. Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. is GM's largest investor with a 9.9% stake. See other Kerkorian investments.
Deutsche Bank analysts said the addition of York and other turnaround experts could hasten GM's resizing, given that he has openly questioned the company's brand and model strategy.
"We continue to question how GM can maintain a business in which 40% of North American volume is directed to fleets and GM's own employees," according to Deutsche Bank's Rod Lache. More analyst information.
While York's January appeal gives GM's dividend cut the appearance of responsiveness to shareholders, "what the cut really reflects is a degradation of the long-term outlook," said Lehman Brothers analyst Darren Kimball. The move also "lowers the likely yield-supported floor for the stock during the possible next wave of pessimism." See full story.
During the Detroit auto show last month, York said additional moves are necessary to stem the flow of red ink, including cutting the number of brand offerings as well as top-to-bottom payroll reductions. See full story.
While following York's advice on the payroll reductions, GM said it has no intention of shutting down any of its brands at this point.
"I don't see a big panacea in reducing the number of brands we have," Wagoner said in a conference call. "If we keep playing them like we did for the last 20 years, yes, we should reduce them, because we did not play them very well."
York will succeed Merrill Lynch
"Jerry brings years of business experience and knowledge of the automotive industry to the GM board," Wagoner said.
O'Neal said increasing time demands at GM were becoming difficult to meet in light of his responsibilities at the brokerage giant.
General Motors, plagued by losses in its North America auto business, said its total loss for the fourth quarter of 2005 ballooned to nearly $5 billion. See full story.
York has said Tracinda would consider stepping up its share count if GM takes the appropriate steps to curb costs.


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World’s Top 10 Selling Plug-In Cars – 2017 May (data source: EV Sales Blog)
Can you hear the Prius Prime footsteps behind you Nissan?
Cumulative global plug-in electric vehicle sales gained momentum in May ,as nearly 89,000 passenger electric vehicles were delivered - a very strong 59% improvement over a year ago.
The gains were largely thanks to China's strong return to the market after some early "red tape" troubles, and the addition of the Toyota Prius Prime to the numbers.
It's expected that as early as next month we could see a new all-time monthly record set. The previous high of 103,000 was set in December 2016.
As reported earlier, global sales in May were driven by the great surge of the Toyota Prius Prime (Prius PHV) in Japan - which sold more than 5,000 copies last month domestically.
The plug-in hybrid Prius, with 7,579 sales total, took down the number one spot overall in May, and moved up to second for the year-to-date (20,824) almost deposing the Nissan LEAF at the top.
Two Chinese models took the #2 and #3 spots in May - the Zhidou D2 EV at 4,471, and the BAIC EC180 at 3,895. While the now heavily discounted Nissan LEAF managed to achieve 3,659 sales.
The only two other plug-ins above 3,000 seems to be Tesla Model X (3,580) and Tesla Model S (3,163) - estimated numbers.
Some interesting things are also happening in manufacturer ranks, as BYD returned to the top of the best selling OEM list for the month with 8,651 units.
Toyota was second with 7,579, followed by BMW (7,242), Tesla (6,713) and then BAIC (6,530).
The race for 100,000+ sales will be pretty interesting this year, although the Tesla Model 3 might put out the competition later this year if Tesla CEO Elon Musk gets his way!
World’s Top 10 Plug-In Car Manufacturers – 2017 May (data source: EV Sales Blog)
Our thanks to EV Sales Blog for tallying up and estimating the individual sales by OEM.


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Chinese smartphone manufacturer, OnePlus, has a reputation for delivering the latest software to its wide range of devices, and not only to its latest flagships. After bringing Android 10 to this year’s 7-series devices, OnePlus has delivered Google’s latest offering to its 2018 flagship duo — OnePlus 6 and 6T.
As we all know, OnePlus has always been keen on delivering a near-stock version of Android, and OxygenOS 10 is no exception. A host of exciting features have been made available for OnePlus 6/6T users, and there’s hardly any room for complaints.
OnePlus 6-series devices come with an infamous notch, and users are generally keen on getting rid of it — through software tweaks, of course. It’s only been a couple of days since the release of Android 10 for the devices, and there’s already a tested plan to tame the notch.
Here’s how to hide the notch on your rooted/non-rooted OnePlus 6/6T:
Step 1: Go to Google Play Store and download SetEdit app (Settings Database Editor).
Step 2: Fire up the app and select System Table.
Step 3: Search for “op_camera_notch_ignore.”
Step 4: Tap on it and set the value to “1.”
Step 5: Save.
Step 6: After your notch is hidden, you can even opt to uninstall the app.
Give us a shout in the comments box below if you need any help in hiding the notch on your OnePlus device on the Android 10 update.


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Separated by over 10,000 km and the entire Atlantic Ocean, it may seem that Jamaica and Jordan have little in common apart from their initial letter. However, three young Jamaican companies got a big boost today following a significant investment by Jordanian enterprise Oasis 500.
It is the first major investment by a foreign company in new mobile start-up companies linking the region’s youth with digital entrepreneurs from the Arab world.
For the CEO of Oasis 500 Youssef Hamidaddin supporting Start Up Jamaica has been a strategic choice to consolidate similar markets, which face similar problems.
"We are looking forward to a lot of collaboration where we can bring these two very similar markets between the Caribbean and Jamaica, between Jordan, the Middle East, and North Africa, between Latin America and the Arab World. I think there is a lot of potential that we can achieve together,” said Youssef Hamidaddin.
Oasis500 is a leading investment company based in Jordan that provides seed and early stage funding, as well as entrepreneurship training, mentorship and business incubation for technology ventures.
The future is digital
Decades of below average growth has hit the youngest hard – about 30 percent of youth are unemployed in Jamaica, migration has been considered by Caribbean youth to be the only option to a long-term career.
However, such figures belie a potential that could kickstart growth – a creative passion and talent for digital technology. Following two highly successful talent showcases, Jamaica is taking the first steps to becoming an international hub for digital innovation, the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean.
The process starts with StartUp Jamaica – an initiative supported by the World Bank and designed to help young, savvy, digital entrepreneurs find investors such as Oasis 500 and tap into the global demand for mobile applications. It’s a key element in the government’s strategy to turn the potential of Jamaica’s youth into a real employment opportunity for them and future generations.
“This is all about developing the appropriate ecosystem for start-ups to grow, and specifically targeting Jamaican youth, the future of our country,” says Julian Robinson, Jamaica’s State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining.
As part of its “Vision 2030 Jamaica” plan, the government is looking at the information and communication technology (ICT) sector as playing a central role in the transformation of the country over the next two decades, moving Jamaica from being a consumer to also become a producer of digital platforms and content.


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Forces Bill Gates out of retirement.
We kid, of course, no Bill Gates is not coming out of retirement. But it just might be the right time to because of Wednesday, Apple surpassed Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable technology company based on market capitalization.
At the end of yesterday’s trading, Apple’s market value stood at around $222 billion while Microsoft suffered a loss and was pegged down to the second spot at $219 billion. Apple’s shares closed down 0.4 per cent at $244.11, while Microsoft fell 4 per cent to a seven-month low of $25.01.
“Apple is now worth more than Microsoft. It may be different tomorrow but I thought it was worth a moment of reflection today,” tweeted Apple CEO Steve Jobs
In response, Steve ‘Developers!’ Ballmer said the company has good competitors but was sure Microsoft will make more profit.
“I will make more profit and certainly there is no technology company on the planet that is as profitable as we are,” Ballmer told reporters in India recently.
To put this whole thing into a perspective somewhat, Apple nearly went out of business in 1990s and had to resort to an investment of $150 million by none other than Microsoft in 1997 to keep things floating. A little more then ten years after, Apple has managed to surpass Microsoft, with all its 90 per cent market share for Windows, Xbox division, hardware, Hotmail and myriad of other businesses, is nothing short of awe inspiring, and with only what?, an iPhone, iPod, iPad, iTunes and Macbook?


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May home sales soared 56 per cent
June 23, 2020
Homebuyers apparently shook off pandemic restrictions in May, driving Canadian home sales up 56 per cent from April, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
Transactions, however, remained 39.8 per cent below the pace in May of 2019.
The number of newly listed homes climbed by a record 69 per cent in May compared to April.
Benchmark prices, nationally, were down 2.6 per cent in May to $494,476, CREA noted, and unchanged from a month earlier.
May 2020 sales figures were still the lowest level for that month since the mid-1990s.
Among Canada’s largest markets, sales in May compared to April rose by 53 per cent in the Greater Toronto Area, 92.3 per cent in Montreal, 31.5 per cent in Greater Vancouver, 68.7 per cent in Calgary, 46.5 per cent in Edmonton, 45.6 per cent in Winnipeg, 69.4 per cent in Hamilton-Burlington and 30.5 per cent in Ottawa.


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BEIJING (CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Beijing has decided to stop adding new shared bicycles to the city's streets and to strengthen the management of existing bikes.
The decision was made after an exchange of opinions with the directors of 15 shared bike companies, and all said they "fully understand" and would comply, according to a statement from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport on Thursday (Sept 7).
The city has 15 shared bicycle companies and more than 2.3 million shared bikes, it said.
"While they make travel more convenient, too many bikes causes problems such as improper parking, especially near bus and subway stations and in shopping districts," the statement said. "Therefore the commission decided to halt new bikes and will begin to tackle improper parking."
A foreigner near the capital's Sanlitun area who identified himself as Paul said everyone benefits when the bikes are parked in "proper, decent places".
"The sidewalks have been taken over by these bikes, which is forcing pedestrians into the street," he said.
Professor Zhu Dajian at Tongji University who helped the Shanghai Bicycle Association review its initial standards for shared bikes, said the halt on new bikes comes as the market for shared bikes has became saturated.
"It's high time we improve the turnover rate of existing bikes rather than continuing to put more bikes onto the streets," said Prof Zhu. "Excessive bikes on the streets will no doubt lead to problems, and more efficient use of the bikes is the key."
The statement also said the commission discourages the development of shared electric bicycles, considering road conditions, the need for charging equipment and safety concerns.
Eleven other cities in China, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuhan have put the brakes on shared bikes. On Aug 3, the central government released a guideline urging city governments to set up parking zones for the bikes and to punish misbehaviour.


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Retail banking towards cashless payments and online lending
Here, experts and senior leaders in the industry had the opportunity to enthusiastically discuss the positive impact of public policy on non-cash payment behavior and made many recommendations for the development of cashless payments. of retail banking in Vietnam in the future.
Ms. Vu Phuong Nga, Deputy Director of Moca Technology and Services Joint Stock Company, commented that the Government’s policies, such as Directive No. 22/CT-TTg, are catalysts for promoting non-payment of payments. use of cash flourished. People have taken advantage of non-cash payment methods to buy goods safely during the epidemic season. Above all, business households and small and medium-sized enterprises have also begun to switch to online forms of payment.
This context and behavior is the explanation for the tremendous growth in the number of cashless transactions via Moca e-wallet on Grab app, the number of new users increasing, the rate of cashless payments. The face of store partners has also grown continuously.
Reflecting more clearly the progress of the retail banking industry in general since the pandemic, the General Statistics Office’s report for the first 6 months of 2021 shows that the profit of the banking industry still grows strongly despite the impact of the pandemic. epidemic. Even in the first 9 months of 2021, many banks said they had achieved 88% of the year’s profit before tax plan.
In addition to policy, the speakers all said that in the next few years, the banking industry in general and retail banking in particular will continue to develop according to the main trends, including: improvement of legal regulations management towards streamlining banking procedures; promoting the development of digital finance, digital banking, non-cash payment; increasing cooperation and connection between banks and payment services to form a financial ecosystem; increase investment in technical infrastructure and technology to reposition distribution channels to save costs…
At the end of the session, the speakers also focused on making many recommendations around the improvement of the legal corridor, suggesting models and solutions for the development of retail banking in Vietnam. .
From a banking perspective, Ms. Bui Thuy Hang, Leader of the Monetary Policy Department, State Bank of Vietnam said that the State Bank is currently implementing and coordinating with other credit institutions to research research, supplement and perfect the legal framework for lending via electronic means. Ms. Hang added: “Regarding the proposed plan, I think that perfecting lending methods through electronic means is a new direction. This is also a channel with a legal basis for banks to have able to carry out retail banking activities, specifically the application of information technology in the implementation of these activities.”
Discussing the legal framework to promote account security, Ms. Doan Hong Nhung, Head of Customer Policy and Retail Products Department of Vietcombank, proposed to promote the permission of the banking industry to connect and exploit information at the National Database. CCCD database, information on CCCD card chip to serve the verification of customer identification information in service provision. He explained: “This not only facilitates increasing accuracy in the process of verifying customer accounts, but also significantly reduces the risk of post-checking problems, reduces information errors in the database. databases, while making it easier for ecosystems to connect with each other.”
Besides, Moca has expressed its recommendation on consumer orientation to pay for services in a non-cash form. “Over the past year, banks and fintech companies have done a great job in promoting cashless payments for services such as taxes, customs, electricity and water, etc. according to the Government’s public policy. public services such as health care, education, etc. We hope that the inter-sectoral agencies, together with the state bank and payment stages together encourage people to use more non-cash forms, ” emphasized Ms. Nga.
Following Economic Life
at Blogtuan.info – Source: cafebiz.vn – Read the original article here


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Tesla has been at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution since its inception and has become one of the most valuable car manufacturers in the world. Their sleek designs and cutting-edge technology have attracted a cult following and have put pressure on traditional car manufacturers to invest in electric vehicles. With the success of their Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles, Tesla’s dominance in the market is clear.
The Rise of Competitors
However, Tesla’s position in the electric vehicle market is starting to face competition from other car manufacturers. Companies like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have started releasing their own electric vehicles that are starting to gain traction in the market. Along with new entrants such as Lucid Motors and Rivian, the competition is heating up.
The Future of Electric Vehicles
As the world looks to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change, the future of electric vehicles seems bright. Government incentives and regulations are also pushing car manufacturers to invest in electric technology. Tesla’s dominance in the electric vehicle market has not gone unnoticed, and there is no doubt that the competition will continue to increase. However, with an already established fan base and years of experience in the market, it is safe to say that Tesla has a head start over its competitors and will continue to be a key player in the industry for years to come.


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DANBURY, Conn. -- Twenty-five years after it launched in Greenwich, Z Hospitality Group is opening its eighth restaurant with the new Terra Ristorante in Danbury.
The restaurant will be located inside Hotel Zero Degrees, which opened in November at 15 Milestone Road. Z Hospitality Group founder and owner Ramze Zakka opened a restaurant by the same name in Greenwich.
Z Hospitality also owns Mediterraneo and Eastend in Greenwich, Mediterraneo in Norwalk and Sole in New Canaan as well as Aurora in Rye and Mediterraneo in White Plains, N.Y.
Zakka opened Terra Ristorante to fulfill his dream of owning a restaurant that offers simple yet delicious food in a warm and inviting environment. His vision was to offer a more relaxed alternative to the already existing white glove and fast casual restaurants. His goal was to open a bistro that introduced authentic Northern Italian food where guests would feel like they were transported to Florence for a genuine dining experience.
Albert DeAngelis, executive chef of all eight restaurants, will lead the culinary efforts in Danbury. His menu will include signature dishes: pizzas and wood-oven cooked dishes, homemade pastas, American Waygu beef carpaccio with white truffle oil, milk-fed veal milanese and parmesan-crusted filet of sole.
The restaurant will feature an architecturally designed dining room with vaulted ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling wall of glass doors that allow for countryside views, natural sunlight and that open in the spring and summer to enjoy an outside grill and bar. Inside, guests will find their signature wood-burning oven, open kitchen dining area and an inviting bar where craft cocktails and an array of wines will be served.
“We are grateful for the ongoing enthusiasm in all of our lower Fairfield County restaurants and very much look forward to serving the northern part of the county as well as Westchester,” said Zakka said. “We are thrilled to be able to offer something new and different to the community.”
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Plug is pulled on Next Internet
ONE OF Britain's top computer entrepreneurs is calling time on his latest venture after losing his Midas touch in the dotcom downturn. Jan Murray, the man who sold PC World to Dixons before making a second fortune at the height of the dotcom boom, is closing Wimbledon-based Next Internet group.
Murray, 53, made £8.5m from the 1993 PC World sale and a further £41m when selling Alternative Investment Market-quoted internet service provider Internet Technology Group (ITG) to now struggling American group Concentric for £146m in 2000.
Then he invested in a series of technology related projects including Next, where he is non-executive chairman. Next took on a slew of former senior ITG staffers including former PC World co-founder Peter Venmore. Next development director Will Murray said the firm was being wound down after the failure of its loss-making financial website and primary investment moneywhispers.com.
The 10-month-old site closed on 31 December due to 'the recent decline in the stock market and other circumstances beyond our control'. Next's remaining staff are being redeployed to develop computer peripherals e-tail site xlshop.com in a move described a 'return to our roots'.
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Creating a business around a mobile app is a popular trend. Plenty of commercial opportunities abound for socializing and simplifying aspects of everyday life. A new fashion mobile app for the iPhone and iPad called Cloth was recently released.
Corporations involved in the online and mobile payments industry continue attracting capital. Braintree has recently raised $34 million of institutional capital. The company, which started in 2007, was bootstrapped during four years without any outside funding.


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Per Bloomberg, recent earnings show that the FAANG stocks — Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google — are more vulnerable than previously expected.
Commonly known as "cons," these giant events bring digital friends and rivals together in a combination of celebrity panels, artist alleys, and even game sneak-peeks. Let's see what 2022 has in store for Florida gaming conventions!
The City of Apopka has been working by lobbying and pushing the state government to acquire a new SunRail station in the next 10 years. They believe that various factors could help bring this idea to fruition.


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Cayenne World is to produce a limited number of unique Erik Buell Racing RX 1190 World Superbike (EBR World Superbike livery) in South Africa. The special-edition EBR 1190 WSBK units will have a new graphic makeover kit, race-tuned engine control ... Wheels24, 1 week ago
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on your WebpageAdd Widget >Get your members hooked!


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…farmers advised to make their own fertilizer or buy from credible producers
Though the country is yet to have standards for commercial organic fertilizer production, the farm input has already flooded local markets and farmers who plan to escape the soaring chemical fertilizer prices have been urged to buy and use these organic fertilizers with caution.
Following the rise in prices of chemical fertilizers induced by the Russia-Ukraine war and the devaluation of the Kwacha, most Malawian entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the surge to venture into commercial organic fertilizer production.
Prices monitored on social media platforms where some manufacturers are advertising, an attractive and well-packaged 50kgs bag of basal organic fertilizers is selling at K30,000, while a 50kgs bag of top-dressing organic fertilizers is selling at K32,000, thus on average.
This is more cheaper compared to a 50kgs bag of NPK fertilizers which as of 5th November, 2023 was selling at more than K55,000 while a 50kgs of Urea was selling at not less than K65,000, but the prices are likely to go up because the Malawian Kwacha has on 8th November, 2023 lost value against the United States Dollar, but also because of high demand as the farming season is finally here.
The soaring chemical fertilizer prices will definitely be a temptation to most smallholder farmers across the country to turn to organic alternatives which are said to be affordable.
Thomas Chifunga from Bvumbwe in Thyolo whom we met at one of the organic fertilizer dealers in Limbe, Blantyre, said: “This is my first time to go for these organic fertilizers just because this year I have failed to source K65,000 for chemical fertilizers and I have never been AIP beneficiary, that’s why we have met here and unfortunately, the organic fertilizer is out of stock in this shop.”
Agriculture expert Dr Tamani Nkhono Mvula encouraged Malawian smallholder farmers to use organic fertilizer saying apart from adding nutrients to the soil, they have got also additional benefits like improving the soil structure, and also being friendly to the environment.
Dr Nkhono Mvula said apart from being affordable, organic fertilizers which are made by mixing agricultural wastes, animal wastes, industrial wastes and of course some chemical fertilizer in other scenarios, offer farmers a huge opportunity in as far as having an alternative to inorganic fertilizers is concerned.
“First of all, we need to understand that when we are talking about organic fertilizers, we are purely talking about manure and manure is something that most farmers have been using for quite some time. These organic fertilizers, apart from adding nutrients to the soil they have got so many benefits like improving the soil structure, just to mention one,” explained Dr Nkhono Mvula.
However, he said farmers should be cautioned on buying organic fertilizers in local markets claiming they are likely to be cheated by the producers as currently the country does not have standards for this farm input and added that no any product has been certified this far.
“The challenge that we have currently is that most of these organic fertilizers are not certified. So, it’s very easy for farmers to be cheated on organic fertilizers, because if these are not certified, they have not been taken to the lab, to be certified, but also to ensure that the amount of nutrients in them are certified. It offers a huge challenge to farmers.
“Farmers may end up not getting what they wanted, but also they are at the end of the day destroying their fields because the contents of these organic fertilizers, most of them, if not all of them have not been yet certified. Currently, we don’t have standards for organic fertilizers,” he cautioned farmers.
Concurring with Mvula was another expert, Dr Kingdom Kwapata who said farmers planning to buy these organic fertilizers on the market, faces the risk of being duped arguing since they are not certified, a farmer may not be sure whether what they are adding in the soil is nitrogen, phosphorus or something else.
Dr Kwapata who is also a Biotechnology Research Scientist hinted on the need for authorities to expedite the process of having standards on organic fertilizers production claiming that’s the only solution to deal with the threat that more farmers may be cheated by manufacturers.
“These organic fertilizers have mushroomed on the market as a result of desperation by farmers after failing to buy chemical fertilizers which are now very expensive and with our country’s lack of forex, we are also finding it difficult to import the same.
“Entrepreneurs have become very enterprising and innovative in producing this. But now our government regulatory systems be it the Malawi Bureau Standards or any other competent body that is able to certify the authenticity of these organic fertilizer, is very important because some scrupulous vendors are going to take advantage and be selling people dead. Dead that is literally dark in colour and claiming it is organic fertilizer.
“So, this is definitely going to put farmers at risk. We needed to have a standardization and regulatory authority for monitoring, accrediting and ensuring that the produce that is on the market is certified. This is not the case at the moment and obviously the farmer will be at risk. But it is because of desperation of the farmer that they are forced to buy this without taking other precautions,” said Dr Kwapata.
Kwapata has since advised farmers who are planning to buy and use organic fertilizers to make sure that they are purchasing these bags of organic fertilizers from trusted and traceable producers where they can go back and launch a complaint in an event that it does not work.
“The manufacturers or people selling them must be trusted. You must have some historical background information as to whether they have been doing this and if you can get some testimonies from others who have purchased the same, it will be helpful. I can personally give farmers credible manufacturers who are doing this so that they are not disappointed,” he added.
Our efforts to find out how far the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) has gone in setting standards for the commercial production of organic fertilizer and its certification, proved futile as the bureau through the spokesperson Monica Khombe did not to our questionnaire despite several reminders.
However, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale recently wrote on his Facebook page saying the ministry and some development partners have been researching and developing different combinations of organic fertilizer which he said was done in line with implementation guidelines of the new Fertilizer Act which was passed earlier this year.
Kawale further reported that MBS will in the next four months be finalizing standards for commercial organic fertilizers and indicated that they are handling it under ISO 17065 – product certification and further mentioned DMS 1084:2021, Solid organic fertilizer – Specification and DMS 1870:2022, Compost – Specification as the draft standards.
In the same Facebook post, the minister encouraged farmers to make their own organic fertilizer (not buying from markets) using the Mbeya formula which involves rough mixing 20kgs of animal dung, 20kgs of maize bran, 10kgs of ash, 10kgs of chemical fertilizer and 5 litres of water.
He said after that, the mixture should be poured into a sack bag with plastic paper inside, kept for 3 weeks and later dried in the shade.
He further said a mixture with NPK means the product is basal dressing organic fertilizer, while a mixture with UREA, produces top dressing organic fertilizer.


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Although the Surface Duo will not arrive for a full year – in 2020 – Microsoft's new hardware is a renewed interest in a lucrative category that Microsoft has almost sworn off. If you join the conversation on phones with a screen twice the size of theMicrosoft will be able to become relevant to a topic of increasing interest. The Surface Duo could produce a future phone , which runs under its new just like the other device that Microsoft has announced on Wednesday, the . The Neo is basically a larger Surface Duo that does not make calls. The basis for Windows software is therefore available. (Note that the Neo has a different processor and works with a magnetic keyboard.)
But Microsoft has assured CNET that it stays with Android and does not intend to build a Windows-based phone. The company's chief product officer, Panos Panay, was so excited about this fact that he twice told Wired. From a practical point of view, it might be easier to leave the practicalities to Google, a company that is well ahead of the fold with the support of a variety of apps, and may provide a better software package for developers.
A more pressing reason to opt for Android is that Microsoft has learned the hard way to buy Android phones and not Windows phones. Android dominates most of the global marketplace, and Microsoft has already become embarrassed by Android (and Apple's iOS ) when low phone sales forced it to shut down its Windows Phone business .
One Microsoft's Windows Mobile software was one of the leading mobile platforms in the 2000s. The company's mobile demise began with the emergence of the iPhone's much more intuitive iOS and cemented several Microsoft software releases that could not compete with Apple's and Google's rapidly evolving Android operating system.
Despite radical redesign of the operating system and evenWindows never reached the features or apps that Android and iPhone had for mobile phones. Windows phones are no longer supported.
Should we calculate a Surface phone running Windows forever? After what Microsoft says, yes. The fact that we even see a new Microsoft device with a cellular voice connection is a sign that the company's mobile ambitions are not as dead as we once thought.
While the prospect of a future Windows Phone is highly unlikely, this upcoming Microsoft Android phone indicates that anything could happen.
Originally published earlier today.
CNET can receive a commission from retailers.


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As many Japanese laments their loss of travel plans over the upcoming Golden Week holidays from late April to early May, more than 80 million Chinese are expected to enjoy what is likely their first vacation since the recent coronavirus lockdowns.
The upcoming Labor Day Holiday set to take place from May 1 to 5, will be the "first real peak" of tourism in China this year, according to a report by Trip.com Group, China's largest online travel operator.
The company expects to see twice as many travelers during the five-day weekend compared with the 43 million recorded during the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival earlier this month.
But safety remains a major concern for many travelers during this year's May holiday, the report showed, with increased demand for quality vacations.
The majority of hotel bookings on the company's platform have been made with four- and five-star hotels and online car rental reservations continue to soar as customers prioritize freedom, privacy and hygiene, according to Trip.com.
Read Original Article


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PANGLAO, Bohol –— The COVID-19 test subsidy for domestic travel is almost a done deal which is seen to boost the recovery of the hardest hit tourism sector, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said.
In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, TPB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones said the Department of Tourism (DOT), through its marketing arm TPB, will soon enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) to finally roll out the subsidized reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab test for domestic travelers.
The UP-PGH testing cost is currently at P1,800 per kit, much lower than those charged by most of the testing laboratory centers averaging from P4,500. Once approved, travelers only have to pay around P900 per test, which is by far the lowest COVID-19 RT-PCR testing price in the country.
“It’s almost a done deal kasi may agreement na kami in principle (because we already have an agreement in principle),” Allones said.
The TPB chief said the agency will tap its emergency fund to be able to sustain the revival of the sector. Under Republic Act 9593, the Tourism Act of 2009, 10 percent of the allocation for promotions and marketing is set aside as a Special Contingency Fund (SCF) of the TPB. The law provides that this can be used in the event of emergencies to provide the TPB with sufficient resources to undertake marketing and promotions activities that will encourage sustained tourism interest in the Philippines and that will address the adverse effects of these emergencies.
Around 11 percent or about P10 million out of the P87 million contingency fund will be used to subsidize the cost of testing.
During the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) meeting last week, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año all agreed that the DOT will lead the implementation of low-cost RT-PCR for Boracay-bound non-Aklanon tourists through the said partnership.
The BIATF also agreed that the tourism department will secure at least 1,500 RT-PCR test kits for the implementation of expanded testing in Boracay Island.
But Allones said all domestic tourists can avail of the subsidized testing regardless of the destination.
She added that the DOT and TPB are also currently exploring other partnerships with almost the same testing rate to cater to the needs of tourists and tourism stakeholders as the current RT-PCR testing price remains a deterrent to travel.
“We received feedback from our Boracay stakeholders na maraming nag-cancel nung ginawang compulsory yung test before travel na RT-PCR kasi nga naman mahal (a number of visitors cancelled their bookings when we made the RT-PCR test compulsory because it’s really expensive,” she said.
“We just have to brace ourselves for the adjustments and hindi natin macocompromise talaga yung safety ng lahat (and we cannot compromise the safety of everyone),” she added.
“I hope they will contribute to that patriotic duty to travel around the country but alongside that is the important commitment to the protocols kasi (because) it’s not as convenient as before,” Allones said.


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A change in tone for my blog today. This story with links is more to do with Corporate Social Responsibility than Customer Experience. It just happens to be what's on my mind right now…
If it weren't for the financial melt down, I'm sure that the tainted milk scandal would be top of the news agenda in Japan today. This isn't the first time that the safety of Chinese products has come into question – and it won't be the last.
If customers don't trust your company, it's bound to be bad for business. The FEER blog points to a noodle shop in Hong Kong, which is seeking to reassure customers by printing expiry dates on the noodles themselves.
But how does one deal with a collapse of trust in an entire country? Whenever a new scare threatens Chinese exports, we hear about new legislation, increased inspections, and draconian punishments. But it seems that the underlying problems are endemic and can't be easily rooted out.
I recently asked a good friend who lived in China and worked with Chinese exporters for 15 years – What will it take to introduce a culture of responsibility to companies in China? (Responsible entrepreneurship, respect for health and safety of customers, ambition to build trusted brands etc.)
Her answer? A free press.
I think she's right. Regulations are important, but they're only part of the solution.
Lest we forget, Chinese firms are not the only ones to ignore safety issues in the pursuit of profit. We also see scandals at Japanese and Western firms – including some truly egregious offenses. But companies are more likely to consider the consequences of their actions if their customers are informed and empowered.
I've seen some TV footage from China that seems to indicate that Chinese consumers are receiving news about the powdered milk problems. So perhaps some good will come of this sad episode.


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Audi is growing a reputation for building stunning cars, inside and out.
Read This Article
An Audi with quattro all-wheel drive is like peanut butter with jelly.
When the all-new Cadillac XTS sedan made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, more observant press members noted something immediately: the XTS was too small.
Audi has announced it will be adding more models to quell the U.S.


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Businesses for sale in Columbus saw higher asking prices in 2Q
The market for buying businesses in Columbus is heating up, and it’s helping keep a national trend of falling prices at bay, a California marketplace where businesses are sold says.
The median asking price for the 123 businesses that were on the market in Columbus improved from $218,000 at the end of the second quarter of 2011 to $225,000 this year, according to BizBuySell.com. That’s a reversal of a national trend that has seen prices slide as business owners sold for less than they normally would have.
“Small business owners are accepting that the market is challenging because we’re still emerging from a recession,” said Mike Handelsman, group general manager for BizBuySell.com and BizQuest.
The number of businesses for sale in Columbus was up 46 percent to 123, Handelsman said. Nationally, Bizbuysell saw a dropoff in the number of businesses for sale. In Columbus, the median revenue and cash flow of businesses listed for sale also was up.
Median revenue for those businesses was up to $452,706 from $423,462, the company found. Median cash flow of businesses for sale in the second quarter hit the $86,752 mark, up from $84,196 a year ago.
“That tells me that either the businesses that are listed for sale are stronger than they were a year ago ... or bigger businesses are selling,” he said.
The key to moving national trends in line with Columbus, Handelsman, is the availability of capital.
“It is a market based on supply and demand. I think more than anything right now there is a lot of supply and a lot of demand but the missing ingredient is capital,” he said.
Handelsman also said he expects an acceleration in small business sales throughout the country in the second half of 2012 as more owners look to unload their companies ahead of the possible expiration of the Bush era tax cuts.
Rick Rouan covers banking, capital markets, insurance, logistics, nonprofits, area airports and air travel for Business First.
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Oil brands KEBS suspended still in supermarkets
Cooking oil brands suspended oil products by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) were still on shelves of retail stores yesterday despite the regulator directing retail outlets’ umbrella body to retract them.
A spot check by Business Hub shows that most retail stores in Nairobi still have the products on their shelves and consumers are buying them.
“This is to notify your members to recall these brands and remove them from the supply chain from your members’ outlets across the country,” Peter Kaigwara, KebsDirector for Market Surveillance stated in a letter to the Retailers Trade Association of Kenya (RETRAK).
Kebs says the edible oil firms did not comply with the requirements set out in the fortified edible and fats specifications on iron levels, but some manufacturers claim to have met the standards.
The affected brands include Bahari Fry, Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri with Garlic Oil, Fry Mate and Gold n pure Olive Gold, Rina. Others withdrawn from the market include Postman, Salit, Tilly, and Top Fry.
Room for suspicion
“The standard sets out the requirements for iron at 2.5mg/Kg,” said Kebs, but it was not clear whether the iron content was above or below the required standard , and the regulator did not give detailed information on which brands were found with which level or content of iron leaving room for suspicions and accusations of which hunting.
A build-up of iron, known as iron overload, can damage parts of the body such as the liver, joints, pancreas and heart.
With the most affected brands being liquid cooking oil, this could force Kenyans back to the solid alternatives, which carry more health risks.
The order affects the largest manufacturers such as Bidco Africa, Pwani Oil, Kapa Oil and Menengai in a deal that could have repercussions on prices and supply of the essential commodity.
The letter to RETRAK CEO Wambui Mbarire dated Wednesday says the regulator took action to protect consumers from using substandard products in the market. This comes at a time when cooking prices had gone up sharply due to shortages among exporting countries such as Malaysia and Ukraine.
The suspension could hit supply hard given that the majority of the suppliers had earlier been affected in what could further hit supplies countrywide.
In order to defend its products, Pwani Oil Products Limited has claimed that the manufacture of its edible oils and fats has always conformed with industry standards.
Pwani Oil stated, “We again emphasize that our manufacturing process for edible oils and fats has always complied with the best industry practices regarding receipt and storage of raw materials, in-process monitoring, product quality control, and storage of the final product.”
Why prices skyrocketed
The industry has gone through a testing period since the beginning of the year when supplies were constrained by high demand and lack of transport from source countries alongside exports bans.
After Indonesia threatened to limit palm oil exports, producers of cooking oil, soap, and cosmetics were in April facing a scarcity of raw materials, raising concerns about possible future rationing of the items whose prices have skyrocketed.
Cooking oil prices have increased by more than 30 per cent since the end of last year, and well-known brands like Elianto are no longer seen on store shelves.
Manufacturers issued a warning that it would be difficult to get the essential component in the wake of the surprising decision by the world’s largest palm oil producer to suspend shipments as of this Thursday.
The restriction in Indonesia, according to Pwani Oil, will hurt supply in addition to pushing prices even higher. Kenya imports a lot of vegetable oils, including soybean, corn, and the widely used crude palm oil, primarily from Malaysia and Indonesia, which together account for more than 90 per cent of the world’s supply.
Kenya has become dependent on Indonesia’s palm oil as a result of Malaysia’s weak output during the past six months as a result of labor shortages and flooding.
Cooking oil is also bought in bulk for industrial use in the making of detergents and foodstuffs such as bread.
The shortage of cooking oil, and other food products such as maize, wheat has again brought to the fore Kenyans chronic food shortage and over dependency on imported food despite a galore of locally grown alternatives such as potatoes, sorghum among others.


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Customs installs portal-type X-ray machine at Davao port
MANILA – A state-of-the-art portal-type X-ray machine was recently installed at the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Thursday.
In a statement, the bureau said the machine will increase the port’s maximum inspection capacity with an additional 3,840 containers per day on top of its previous scanning capacity.
The X-ray machine installed at the port on Jan. 12 has a scanning capacity of 160 containers per hour.
With the newly installed X-ray machine, the BOC's Collection District 12 already has 13 X-ray machines that are all fully operational.
The machine’s portal design allows container trucks to move through the X-ray machine as opposed to the mobile X-ray design, where the machine has to move along the length of a container.
The BOC said the newly installed X-ray machine will increase the border security capabilities of DICT as it will not only provide better service but will also help in the speedy clearance of sea freight cargoes.
Under the term of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the bureau has invested and procured modern X-ray machines to be used in major ports nationwide to increase scanning capabilities. (PNA)
By Ferdinand Patinio


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The in-principle approval from Sebi will allow the Bengaluru-based startup to launch its own mutual funds, founder and chief executive Nithin Kamath tweeted on Wednesday. Zerodha is India’s largest retail broker by registered users.
The Reserve Bank of India has stated that it will grant ‘in-principle’ approval to Centrum Financial Services Limited. This move will allow the setting up of a small finance bank.
Indian bank seeks approval from shareholders to raise Rs 4,000 Cr. issue proceeds to enable the Bank strengthen its capital base to support growth.


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PlayStation 4 Launch Date Confirmed
The day has arrived! Sony has finally announced the launch date for the PlayStation 4.
The long anticipated console, since it’s initial reveal at E3 2013, has had many fans on their toes with nothing but a promise of a “Holiday 2013” release date. Well, I’m excited to tell you that the date has been set for November 15th, 2013 for North America and November 29th for Europe.
With many games already scheduled for the console like Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and Infamous: Second Son, the PlayStation 4 is surely going to be a winner in the console race this time around. Also, because of the problems Microsoft has been having with their Xbox One, I think Sony will have a lot of new fans coming on board with their latest console.
I, for one, think that Sony will hit the jackpot with the PS4. Tell me what you think! How excited are you for the PlayStation 4 now that there is an exact date?


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Nielsen supports Trump's goal of securing border
- Google Pixel 3a confirmed by Google Store leak
- Kodak Black 'sorry' for Nipsey Hussle girlfriend comment
- BJP manifesto a bunch of lies: Congress
- Dave Bautista -- "I Am Officially Retired from Sports Entertainment"
- India rejects Pakistan's allegation of planning attack
- Eric Weddle rips 'childish' Antonio Brown for tweet about Smith-Schuster
- Pres. Trump met with support during visit to border town Calexico, Calif.
- For American Jews, Trump is key figure in Israeli election
- Kit Harington's Brother Perfectly Referenced Jon Snow In His Best Man Speech
- Apple slashes price of iPhone XR in India
- Jordan Henderson On Bench - Liverpool Team vs Southampton Confirmed
- Windows 10 May 2019 Update announced, and major update changes
- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation celebrates 70th anniversary, despite member tensions


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Domestic passenger flights will restart on May 25, 2020. Bookings for these flights are now open. Here is how to book these tickets and how much would they cost.
Tag Archives for Vistara.
The new SOP for air travel has been notified, which will allow for travel by planes across India on May 25, 2020, and onwards. Here is how much things have changed for the next time you will get on board an aircraft.
Vistara has notified new service guidelines for whenever they will be able to take flight again. No reading materials, truncated meal service and less interaction with the crew are some of these new (temporary) guidelines.
Air Vistara and OptionTown have been together offering ancillary services on the airline for a few years now. However, Vistara has now discontinued the contract and OptionTown won’t be an option any longer.
Vistara has paused the issuance of free tickets to its co-brand cardholders due to the CoronaVirus pandemic.
A new Club Vistara Update has been rolled out to members, which accounts for the CoronaVirus related grounding. The airline will reinstate expired points and vouchers for four months, and also give SOME leeway on status, but not much.
Aditya Ghosh, Sanjiv Kapoor and Rahul Taneja, on one panel. For a fun conversation which covered some of their challenges at their airlines and how things are working out for them after their aviation stints.
In spite of strict instructions from the government that no airline should accept bookings till further notice, airlines operating in India continue to accept bookings for the days ahead. Here is a list of the airlines complying with the rules and the ones which are not (which is most of them)
All the airlines operating inside India, as well as operating flights to India, have been told to stop the sale of flights to/from/within India till further notice, to make sure that the airlines won’t be able to take new reservations for the time being.
The time to EFFECTIVELY regulate the airlines is now, but unfortunately, they are getting a free hand at doing a lot of things which they should not be doing at the moment. Consumer protection is not how it should have been during the times of CoVid-19.
Airlines have been very kind to us offering a “credit shell” while they should have kindly returned our cash when they ended up in the CoVid-19 Soup. But these credit shells are flawed and have many issues, so take a look at these issues before you accept them.


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Aug. 20, 2019, By Ryanne Salzano
Some low-income New Yorkers can get a free month of Citi Bike rides, as part of an initiative partnered with Citi Bike and the New York, Brooklyn, and the Queens Public Library.
The offer comes as a celebration of the first anniversary of the Reduced Fare Bike Share from Healthfirst, a New York health insurance company.
Residents of NYCHA developments and people who receive SNAP benefits qualify for a free month of Citi Bike rides. The offer is only available to new Citi Bike members.
New Yorkers who qualify can go to the circulation desk at any library branch for a gift certificate for the offer while supplies last. Riders can use the certificate to enroll online for the Citi Bike membership.
The offer provides unlimited 45-minute rides for the first 30 days. After that, riders can renew their membership for $5 a month. There’s no annual commitment or auto-renew, and riders can re-enroll by taking a Citi Bike ride after the initial offer expires.
“Citi Bike’s reduced fare gift certificates will offer many people who visit our libraries in western Queens and our tech lab at the Queensbridge Houses equitable access to a healthy transportation option that respects the environment,” said Dennis Walcott, president and CEO of the Queens Public Library.
The Reduced Fare Bike Share program from Healthfirst boasts a membership of 3,500 New Yorkers. These members ride, on average, twice as much as those with annual Citi Bike members, according to the press release. Healthfirst is New York’s largest not-for-profit health insurer.


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Cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that makes use of cryptography to process, secure and validate transactions for trade and commercial activities. Cryptocurrency has been beloved to be one of the surest ways of enhancing the trade and commerce industry in Nigeria.
In a cryptocurrency forum organized by Luno in Lagos, titled “Building Trust in the Nigerian Cryptocurrency Market”, some financial and crypto experts in the blockchain community stated that cryptocurrency will help to enhance and improve the economic, trading and commercial activities across Nigeria to the rest of the African countries and beyond.
While most developed countries are accepting and embracing the use of cryptocurrency, it has been discovered that it is yet to be adopted in some places in the world. Cryptocurrency happens to be untapped in some African countries.
This has made some experts in the Nigerian blockchain community to call out for greater regulation of cryptocurrency in the Nigerian economy. Some crypto experts pointed that the regulation of cryptocurrency in Nigeria will help to reduce the economic crisis rocking the country and also help to boost the overall economy of the country.
Also recall that in November 2018, they were calls made by blockchain communities in Nigeria who asked for cryptocurrency regulation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The non-regulation of the use of cryptocurrency in Nigeria has affected so many online businesses especially blockchain companies and cryptocurrency exchangers in the country. Cryoto experts have predicted a rapid growth in the country’s economy if cryptocurrency would be regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a presentation made at the Luno crypto summit, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Blockchain Solutions Limited, Mr. Lucky Uwakwe spoke to the audience that the use of cryptocurrency is on the rise all over the world and that 65% of the world’s population are aware of cryptocurrency. While citing a research made by Luno Nigeria, Mr. Uwakwe said that that 25% of people in the case study own and make use of cryptocurrency. According to Mr Lucky, who said that 51% of people saw cryptocurrency as an investment, 16% used crypto for the purposes of online shopping, 19% of people in the case study used crypto for the purposes of remittance and another 11% uses crypto to make transfer and top-ups for their families and friends.
Mr Uwakwe also advised Nigerians to speed up and catch up with other countries of the world or else, they will be left behind. Another cryptocurrency investor, Olaleye Awe encouraged Nigerians to engage and participate in cryptocurrency operations like purchasing and buying bitcoins. However, he was quick to remind Nigerians not to invest more than what they can afford to lose; by saying that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency coins are volatile. He equally advised them to trade in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin when the prices are low.
With speaking at the event, Owenize Odia (County Manager, Luno) said that Luno was introduced in 2013 as an international platform to improve the system of Bitcoin and Ethereum trades.


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C.P. Company has opened the doors on its Cinquanta exhibition, celebrating 50 years of experimentation and sportswear innovation.
More than just goggle jackets and bug-eyed beanies, C.P. has been one of British subculture's leading brands over the last 50 years. Despite being birthed and built in Italy, the brand's early adoption by football fans and the constantly evolving music scene in the UK have played a huge role in cementing its global legacy.
As the brand has continued to grow – through material innovations and a devotion to constantly pushing the boundaries of functional design – throughout the past five decades, its legacy and roots have deepened, culminating in an extensive retrospective in Darwen, Lancashire.
For an Italian brand, the location of the ongoing exhibition may seem like a strange choice, but when exploring the market town's close connection to the sporting culture that embraced C.P. in its formative years, it makes perfect sense.
In 1870 Darwen Football Club was formed, becoming the first football club in the world to have paid professional players. As the heart of professional football, it served as the feeding ground for the growing cross-cultural connection between sport and style. Now, thanks to the Cinquanta exhibition and initiatives surrounding the event, it serves as the staging ground for the future of Lancashire's regeneration.
Opening as part of the British Textile Biennale, the event space serves as a library of key moments in the brand's history. The display, created in collaboration with Random Studio, features items like the 1975 Chester Perry Shirt, 1982 Dutch Police Jacket, 2009 Nylon Goggle Jacket, and 2020 P.RI.S.M Jacket. The space will also play home to the upcoming adidas Spezial x C.P. Company collaboration, set to launch later this month.
Beyond the space, Cinquanta will explore the full shared subcultural history and future of C.P. and Darwen through a free music festival and partnership with the youth homeless charity, Nightsafe.


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Recession is not the one issue that has introduced down exports of diamonds to the US from India, which is claimed to cut and polish nine out of each 10 diamonds out there globally. “The concern of sanctions and absence of clarity are impacting the trade,” said a leading diamond exporter, who didn’t want to be named. Manufacturers of lab-grown diamonds – that are 80% cheaper than natural diamond – additionally claimed that export volumes have elevated with the US being the most important importer. They attributed the fall in export worth to cost instability after several new gamers entered the market. India has the potential to become a worldwide manufacturing hub for gems and jewellery, according to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Speaking on the annual World Jewellery Confederation Congress in Jaipur, Goyal highlighted the significance of the business to India’s financial system, with its contribution to annual merchandise exports and employment of almost 5 million individuals.
Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. PC Jeweller share price saw a 52 week high of Rs seventy one.forty and 52 week low of Rs 21.30. Revenue from the Middle East operations within the final quarter rose 22% to Rs seven hundred crore as against Rs 574 crore in Q1 of the previous monetary year. The Middle East operations’ revenue climbed 24% to Rs 17 crore in Q1 compared to a PAT of Rs 14 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The stock of Kalyan Jewellers has gained 156% in a 12 months and risen forty six.08% in 2023. Total 5.41 lakh shares of the firm changed arms amounting to a turnover of Rs 10.02 crore on BSE.
“Putting money into jewellery is a better worth during inflationary times. People’s budgets may shift, but they’ll nonetheless want jewelry and we really give consideration to worth engineering and our price equation, like lab-grown diamonds which supply higher costs than pure diamonds for greater looks. Given all of the stress consumers skilled final 12 months due to the pandemic, it’s onerous to clarify how jewelry consumption grew some 50% as the preliminary knowledge from the BEA suggests. That stated, Signet was in a position to hold pace with sales up 50% year-over-year and 28% over fiscal 2020. It has a completely integrated inventory administration system throughout the complete firm and insights necessary to optimize its retail footprint. And because of its efforts to distinguish its banners, a Kay and Zales stores can sit side-by-side and not cannibalize gross sales as they as quickly as did.
It’s a false economic system for landlords to try to extract rent from retailers that want their cash reserves to outlive the COVID winter,” the Sydney Morning Herald quotes Zahra as saying. Combined, the packages are paid to roughly 7.6 million individuals and have enabled many companies to proceed operating by boosting consumer spending. Salty mentioned the the capital raised might be deployed in initiatives, together with recruiting for crucial positions, increasing channels, and strengthening the brand Jewelery News‘s digital presence with the discharge of an app. “Global geopolitical scenario affected exports last fiscal. We predict the exports to enhance within the second half of this year following festive demand in the US and Europe. The design borrows the remnants of the tiny good hanger on the chain that designer’s grandmother wore whereas she was rising up. This vintage design characteristic has created a new jewel that symbolizes the battle for protecting women’s reproductive rights.
He observed a hole on the Jos Alukkas Jewellery retailer building via which he entered the premises. Jeweller has contacted Kemp multiple times for comment since the collapse of Everledger in April; however, she is yet to respond. Only a couple of days in the past Kemp confirmed on Twitter that she will be a visitor speaker on the ‘Founder and CEO Summit’ hosted by the UK-based Women’s Business Club. It is value noting that Kemp has beforehand attributed the collapse of Everledger solely to selections made by different people. “The proof of Ms Kemp about this document was vague; she did not know whether any of the parties signed a version of this document however it was, she mentioned, ‘executed by means of a payment’ ,” the choice reads. The dispute was over taxation concessions, between the federal government and her Absoft Qld firm (which had changed its name to ‘Naughtsncrosses Pty Ltd’).
At Retail Jeweller, our jewellery news is up to date daily to keep you knowledgeable and engaged with the trade news that really matters. We also specialise in breaking jewelry information and insights, bringing you the most vital updates at quick speeds so you probably can stay informed and part of the talk. Retail jewellers and those excited about excessive road jewellery news can profit from quick access to thought leaders and jewelry supplier updates, serving to businesses to really feel inspired and well-versed. Retail Jeweller jewelry information and insights is your go-to destination for related subjects in international jewelry enterprise. This might have a profound influence on jewellers’ advertising methods, especially for the gold jewelry business as gold merchandise account for the lion’s share.
- Officials mentioned that there might be no double checks on India’s export of cut and polished diamonds because the nation makes use of diamonds coming via Antwerp and other geographies, and never immediately from Russia.
- Culture is an important factor within the lives of people and this is evident in increasing buy of diamond jewelry.
- The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council attributes the decline to provide disruptions and a voluntary halt in tough diamond imports because of geopolitical issues.
- Despite the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Danish jewelry firm reported income of DKK4.07 billion ($AU887.9 million) for the quarter compared with DKK2.88 billion ($AU628.3 million) within the previous quarter.
- And most retailers believe that “self-wear” and “wedding purchases” will continue to play key roles in driving gold jewellery demand.
Drawing inspiration from the Spanish time period for ‘sir’ or ‘gentleman,’ the Senhor assortment is designed to satisfy the trendy man’s desire for distinctive and significant equipment. The jewelry line presents a diverse vary of textures, together with dual-tone pieces and minimalistic patterns, aligning with the aesthetic decisions of the current technology. Over one hundred eighty exhibitors — a hundred and forty from Surat — and the remainder from Mumbai participated within the Business to Business event where a variety of jewelry, with pure diamonds and lab-grown diamonds, have been displayed. Blonde the Store is an online jewellery and accessories shop specialising in fun, funky earrings that you simply won’t find on the high road. The website contains items from all round the world, together with Francine Bramli Paris earrings and the Blonde group’s personal model, Eve Ray Designs.
They, in turn, change because of modifications within the worth of the currency and a variety of different things, such as decisions about rates of interest and inflation. If there could be an excessive amount of cash in the system, the value of gold could go up as a end result of Gold Exchange Traded Funds tend to purchase up gold. Cheng additionally highlighted the company’s “dual-force strategy” for business growth, opening a further 1,361 shops in China.