text:
A few spots of rain again, as Westwood and Ishikawa both pop on in three. Fine shot from the Japanese, he’ll tap in for an outward 36. Watson cuffs his tee shot down the middle of the 14th.1640: Chris Wood with a delicate little chip onto the 5th, he’s still two under.
Circuit City also uses a trade in program as an incentive to recycle your aging (but still functioning) tech devices. Circuit City is also a partner in the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation’s (RBRC’s) Call2Recycle program, which recycles rechargeable batteries and old cell phones; Circuit City also offer collection bags for their online customers to make it easier to recycle the phone when you’re done with it. One caveat: if you still have a boxy CRT computer monitor, Circuit City won’t take them because of their weight..
This thesis is animating both global economics and domestic politics. Dozens of candidates have run ads assailing an opponent for coddling China and allowing it to take advantage of us. In the election year view, China grew 10% annually for the past decade while maintaining low inflation only by taking advantage of its artificially low currency.
Last night i had a perfect storm of a few of the above points in one moment. The lane i was in started to merge with another lane as another car was kind of to my right. At that moment the steering wheel warning came on. “To stand up to your boss that’s that big and that powerful is really remarkable, and it’s really inspiring.”Employees covered by the deal include food service, custodial, hotel and park workers.Under the agreed upon terms, the minimum wage will climb incrementally over the next three years before hitting $15 per hour in October of 2021.Maddy Johnson, a University of Central Florida student who works more than 50 hours a week at Disney, said she’s been employed by the park for five years and hasn’t seen any significant raises. She makes $11 an hour as an attractions hostess at the Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris.When she got word about the deal reached Friday, she said she cried.”I work overtime to try to make ends meet,” Johnson said. “I never thought I’d get to see an increase that’s so historic, and so huge that’s going to impact every Cast Member.”Disney reached a deal in July to lift the minimum hourly wage to $15 for 10,000 Disneyland workers in Anaheim, California beginning next year.
It made me wonder whether sport can build on it current position, for some s at least, as being their 3rd place between work and home. What Starbucks did wasn new, coffee shops were already a 3rd place for some. But what Starbucks did was build it up into a relevant and compelling experience, and one they could use to grow their whole market (not just their share of the existing market)..


text:
MUMBAI: The 22nd edition of India’s biggest celebration of cinema – the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards is poised to unite the world in showcasing cinematic excellence, bringing its global presence to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on May 20-21, 2022.
The highly anticipated NEXA IIFA Awards will see electrifying performances from Bollywood megastars Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Varun Dhawan, Ananya Panday, Divya Khosla Kumar and Nora Fatehi, among others, at the most coveted annual ceremony that promises to be a mix of glitz and glamour. and entertainment.
The grand global event will be hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh and Maniesh Paul at the Middle East’s largest state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue, Etihad Arena, part of the Yas Bay waterfront on the Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Organizers also announced that the star-studded IIFA weekend will be presented by Laser Book News, the fastest growing news and opinion platform, with official travel partner Ease My Trip – one of the leading online travel aggregators in India, cause partner for gender equality – Washing expert Woosh and associate sponsor Krisumi Corporation.
With the excitement growing all over the world, people can now buy tickets for India’s biggest celebration of cinema at https://www.etihadarena.ae/en/box-office or you can go to www.yasisland .ae where fans can add everything they need for their visit to Yas Island. Prize denominations vary between AED 110, 220, 330, 440, 550, 1000 and 1350 prices. (*Please note that additional fees, terms and conditions may apply).
The event will take place at the largest state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue in the Middle East, the Etihad Arena, part of the Yas Bay waterfront on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of destinations and immersive experiences.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited’s NEXA pledges that the IIFA will continue its partnership for the sixth consecutive edition as the title sponsor of the IIFA Awards. As the world looks forward to this year‘s celebration of Hindi cinema with music and fashion in yet another exotic destination, the content promises to be ambitious and entertaining. With its growing popularity across the globe, the IIFA is now recognized not just as a globally broadcast and streamed event, but as an institution in its own right and a platform recognized as the most celebrated celebration. most appealing in Indian cinema.
Yas Island is one of the fastest growing leisure and entertainment destinations in the world, located on the golden shores of Abu Dhabi. Home to magical adventures and awe-inspiring entertainment, as well as three world-class theme parks, exceptional motorsports, an award-winning golf course and world-class hospitality services, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island is a destination like nowhere else.
Kartik Aaryan added saying, “As always, the IIFA truly offers you the largest audience to entertain and the opportunity to engage with my fans and entertain them is very rewarding. In 2018, after hosting and performing at my first IIFA which was a phenomenal experience, I am delighted to perform again at the 22nd edition of India’s biggest celebration of cinema. The IIFA is truly the epitome of a global phenomenon with its huge following and I am looking forward to the IIFA Awards at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi this year.
Sara Ali Khan said, “IIFA is a truly inspiring global platform that has always led the way in bringing Indian cinema to the global stage, honoring and recognizing the brilliance of our industry with its annual ceremony at an international destination and continued to do so. tenaciously. I am honored to be part of the 22nd edition at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi at Etihad Arena on Yas Bay. I look forward to connecting with IIFA fans and enthusiasts around the world.
Divya Khosla Kumar, added saying, “IIFA, represents the mammoth reach of Indian cinema and as a major international event beyond Indian shores, IIFA has truly taken it to glorious heights bringing the world of cinema to life. Indian for existing and new audiences. I am honored and look forward to my performance at the 22nd edition at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Nora Fatehi said, “I’m really excited because it’s not only my first time at the IIFA, but also because it’s a one-of-a-kind performance for everyone. There are all the entertainment elements and a huge surprise too! As an artist, I’m really happy to be part of the 22nd IIFA at Yas Island, which brings Indian cinema and culture to a global platform, because it resonates with my idea of ‘elevate and promote cross-cultural diversities across the globe.’
Besides the Arena and Yas Bay, guests visiting Yas Island will also be able to enjoy a variety of experiences. From award-winning theme parks, the record-breaking CLYMB Abu Dhabi, the capital’s largest shopping mall, 160 restaurants, a scenic beach and mangroves, luxurious hospitality stays and more, there’s plenty to explore!

domain: news


text:
Disney Plus' Marvel TV shows will reportedly cost up to $25 million an episode. Here's how that compares to TV's most expensive series.
- Disney Plus' Marvel TV shows "Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Hawkeye" will cost "as much as $25 million per episode," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
- Variety previously reported that the shows would be six to eight episodes in length, so each series could cost between $150 million and $200 million.
- Apple is also investing heavily in original content for its own upcoming streaming platform, Apple TV Plus. "The Morning Show" will cost $300 million for two seasons (or $15 million an episode for 20 episodes), Bloomberg first reported.
- That's on par with the final season of "Game of Thrones," which cost $15 million an episode.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Disney Plus' Marvel TV shows will have a hefty price tag on par with the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.The shows "Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Hawkeye" will cost "as much as $25 million per episode," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Variety had previously reported that the shows would be six to eight episodes long, so each series could cost between $150 million and $200 million.Advertisement
Disney is investing heavily in its upcoming streaming service and is projecting a 2020 original programming budget "short of $1 billion," according to THR. "The Mandalorian," the first live-action "Star Wars" series and another high-cost show, is priced at $15 million an episode, according to THR.
cost $15 million an episode ($90 million for six episodes), according to Variety.Advertisement
Netflix's high-budget shows like "The Crown" and "Stranger Things" cost $10 million and $8 million per episode, respectively, according to Variety.
The first of the Disney Plus Marvel shows, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," is set to debut next year. Disney Plus launches November 12 and Apple TV Plus launches November 1.
- Founder of S African Hindu political party succumbs to COVID-19
- US House Speaker tests positive for coronavirus
- Assam's COVID-19 tally rises to 11,736 with 735 fresh cases
- Kerala govt makes compulsory for public to follow COVID-19 norms till 2021
- Jharkhand reports 53 new cases of COVID-19, 1 more death


text:
Mushroom-based burgers, topical pharmaceuticals and x-ray-free medical imaging take home the awards this year. The three winning European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were announced at the Network's annual conference on 1st October, in Stuttgart, Germany.
The EU's Europe Enterprise Network (EEN) selects companies with inspiring visions that know how to adapt and use EU support to internationalise. The three award categories are ‘stepping ahead’, ‘recovery’ and ‘inspiring client journey’.
As the world's largest support network for SMEs that want to go international, the EEN helps businesses innovate, digitalise and grow sustainably in the EU and beyond. The 2021 finalists were comprised of industries ranging from textile and fashion, robotics, and pharmaceuticals to agro-food, wastewater treatment, and laser technology.
BeefyGreen, a Dutch company manufacturing a mushroom-based meat substitute from the stems of oyster mushrooms received the award in the ‘Stepping Ahead’ category.
In the ‘Recovery’ category, the award went to Nuvisan, a French pharmaceutical company active in research & development services for the development and production of topical medicines.
The Italian UBT SRL (Umbria Bioengineering Technologies) received the ‘Inspiring Client Journey’ Award. for developing and commercialising innovative medical imaging devices based on cutting-edge microwave technology instead of dangerous ionizing radiation (X-Rays).
- Dátum uverejnenia
- 1. októbra 2021


text:
BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Fuzhou Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) saw a total of 32 projects involving 59.2 billion yuan signed on Friday.
These projects involve fields such as cross-border e-commerce, marine fisheries, Internet of Things (IoT), biomedicine, bulk trade, advanced manufacturing, and financial services.
Since the beginning of this year, in response to the impact of the epidemic, the Fuzhou Area has launched the online investment promotion model.
Since the establishment of the Fuzhou FTZ five years ago, it has played a leading role in improving the business environment in Fujian Province to maximize the vitality of market players.
According to statistics, in the past five years, Fuzhou FTZ has added 36,000 new businesses with a registered capital of 780.7 billion yuan, and witnessed the establishment of a number of key platforms such as vehicle imports, IoT, cross-border e-commerce, and seafood trade. (Edited by Hu Pingchao with Xinhua Silk Road, email@example.com)


text:
According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, there is yet another reason to love the Sunshine State for vacation travel … low travel tax.
Three cities in Florida are rated the lowest for taxes on lodging, rental cars and meals.
Across the U.S., even though most cities and towns try hard to encourage visitors and tourism, travel is one of the most heavily taxed activities in the U.S.
Travel tax revenue is often used not only to build and run facilities for travelers, such as convention centers and airports, but also to help finance general coffers and pay for sports stadiums and youth ball fields.
According to a study published last month by the Global Business Travel Association, some cities even tax visitors to help fund arts facilities and school systems.
And the impact can be significant. The GBTA study states that travelers pay taxes that total, on average, 57% more than if they just paid the normal general sales tax.
Many believe that heavy taxes on travel can dampen demand.
A survey by the U.S. Travel Association found 49% of respondents had altered plans because of high travel taxes, such as by staying in less-expensive hotels and spending less on shopping and entertainment. However, only ten percent of people surveyed said they had changed city choices for trips because of taxes.
Three Florida cities, Fort Myers (Lee County), Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach tied for the lowest overall taxes among the top 50 destinations in the U.S. in the WSJ article.
The top three were Chicago, New York and Boston.
The tax on a day’s travel spending can range from as little as $22.21 in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, Fla., to as much as $40.31 in Chicago.
The study calculated each city’s tax by keeping the cost of hotels, car rentals and meals the same in each city so the difference reflects the tax structure, not higher or lower travel costs.
So come to Fort Myers, Florida (Lee County) and cut your travel costs!


text:
The Washington, D.C., Taxicab Commission announced that cab companies who fail to meet the time requirements of the Taxicab Service Improvement Amendment Act of 2012 will be able to request an additional 180 days to comply. Taxicabs and black car luxury companies were to have 6 percent of their fleets wheelchair accessible by this past […]
Three wheelchair users filed a lawsuit against a trio of hotel operators they say discriminated against them by failing to provide accessible hotel shuttle transportation. “For those of us who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices, it’s difficult enough to get around most cities when we travel,” says plaintiff Ruthee Goldkorn, from Los Angeles. “All […]
There are many ways for wheelchair users to modify motorcycles and catch the wind once again.
Should adaptive vehicle owners consider driving for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft?
Driving a vehicle is a daily occurrence for most people, and an activity that is often taken for granted. Driving provides a means of leaving the home to work, shop, attain an education, travel great distances or enjoy time with friends. But for many people with disabilities, the cost of driving can create what seems […]
For each product category in the Consumer Guide, we’ve collected a handful of items that appeared in NM in 2014. In some cases the original article is longer, so we’ve provided the link, in case you’d like to look up more information: Chairiot Solo (June, Accessible Electric Cars: Soon?) The Chairiot solo is the first […]
Ever dreamed of dropping everything you do, packing up an RV and just going on a long road trip? Read on to learn more about two bloggers living the wheelchair RV lifestyle. Rolling in a RV “Rolling in a RV” was started by Karen, a woman who was injured as a result of a hot […]
Our final installment of New Mobility’s 25th anniversary “Legacy” section brings us to the present.
As the purveyors of all things “Gear,” this week’s post takes a roll away from the product previews we’ve been doing to preview a new web site that hopes to change the way you chose your gear. Crytico.com, which launched its pilot phase last week, aims to become the leading website dedicated to reviews of […]
The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association has announced that Courtney Boyll, a mother of three and third grade teacher at Moulton Elementary in Moulton, Ala., is one of four winners of its 2014 Local Hero Contest. Boyll, 36, was given the keys to a new 2014 Toyota Sienna with a VMI Northstar conversion during a […]


text:
Yuga Labs, creator of Bored Ape Yacht Club and Otherside, is adding prominent gaming professionals to its team, including Mike Seavers as its new CTO, in a strategic move to strengthen and expand its unicorn startup.
A few months following the appointment of ex-Activision president and COO Daniel Alegre as CEO, Yuga Labs, the mastermind behind Bored Ape Yacht Club and Otherside, is expanding its team with more seasoned gaming professionals to strengthen its unicorn startup.
Today, Yuga Labs disclosed that it has enlisted the expertise of Mike Seavers, a gaming industry veteran with previous experience at both Riot Games and Epic Games, to serve as its new chief technology officer (CTO). Upon Seavers’ arrival on May 22, the present CTO, Kerem Atalay, will assume an advisory position.
Enthusiastic about the transformative potential of web3, Seavers stated, “I am eager to join Yuga Labs in shaping a new chapter of the internet that positively impacts the world.”
Seavers brings a wealth of gaming industry knowledge, having served as CTO at Riot Games for seven years, where he contributed to hit games like League of Legends, Legends of Runeterra, and Valorant.
Later, he held the position of CEO at game tech startup AppOnboard, securing $20 million in Series C funding for the Buildbox game engine.
His most recent role was as EVP of development at Epic Games, where he was responsible for product development and leading Fortnite’s engineering team.
Yuga Labs’ CEO, Daniel Alegre, emphasized that Seavers’ skills will be invaluable in helping the company scale and realize its vision of becoming a leading web3 platform for community and social engagement in media and entertainment.
Yuga Labs is doubling down on its gaming strategy, with the goal of making its forthcoming Otherside metaverse game a hit despite the fading excitement surrounding metaverse projects. Otherside is conceptualized as a social MMORPG that allows players to embark on adventures and explore a 3D world.
A recent DappRadar report revealed that Yuga Labs’ numerous NFT collections, such as Bored Apes, Mutant Apes, CryptoPunks, Meebits, and Otherdeeds, account for a significant 35% of the total NFT ecosystem’s market cap between October 2022 and March 2023.
Otherside, Yuga Labs’ flagship metaverse game, is the top-performing “metaverse” NFT collection to date, with approximately $322 million in total volume traded over the past six months and close to $1.25 billion in value since its launch last year.
ApeCoin has also emerged as the leading gaming-centric cryptocurrency, boasting a market cap of $1.48 billion.


text:
Knightsbridge, that sportscar-clogged junction just south of Hyde Park, is home to the highest priced high street in Britain. Forget the fate of the average town centre, littered with boarded-up shop fronts. Here, Harrods and Harvey Nicks sit within air-kissing distance of Europe's largest Rolex shop, Bulgari's flagship store and the McLaren showroom.
Among the neighbourhood's international, ultra-high net-worth residents is Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, who in 2007 paid a reported £136m for the most expensive flat in London's most expensive development, One Hyde Park. In December, an anonymous buyer spent £100m on an unfurnished duplex across the road in the brand new Bulgari Hotel and Residence.
Until last month, however, something was missing from this super-rich retail park. Cars and diamond watches are all very well, but where's a billionaire supposed to buy himself a plane? Answer: at The Jet Business, "the world's first corporate aviation showroom for business jet aircraft", which has opened its doors at Hyde Park Corner. Inside, prospective buyers – oligarchs, princes, former prime ministers and Fortune 500 CEOs – can sample the life-size, luxury cabin of a $90m Airbus A319 corporate jet: oatmeal leather loungers, walnut-veneered drinks cabinet, and a James Bond Blu-Ray on the widescreen television.
The Jet Business is the brainchild of Steve Varsano, a tanned New Yorker with immaculate teeth and tailoring, who in 1985 was named Cosmopolitan's "Bachelor of the Month". Varsano has been working on the idea for five years, and spent 25 years in the corporate jet game before then. After graduating with a degree in aeronautical studies, he became a lobbyist for the air industry in Washington. There, he persuaded an acquaintance from the jet sales business to introduce him to his boss.
"I went to their office," he recalls, "and they were all wearing T-shirts, shorts, and sandals. I said: 'You guys sell jets?' and they told me, 'Well, we never meet our clients.' I'm always shocked that most people sell aircraft over the phone. To me, something like this requires a face-to-face relationship: if you're selling something for $50m, you'd think the buyer would want to know who they're buying it from." Quite.
There are around 19,000 private jets in the world, 200 of which are traded each month. Until 20 years ago, explains Varsano, 70 per cent were owned by Americans. "But it's now 40 per cent America, and 60 per cent outside. The market has moved East. Anyone who can afford an aircraft and is based in Africa, the CIS countries, the Middle East or Europe is going to come through London. And if they come through London, they probably come through Knightsbridge, Mayfair or Belgravia."
More than two-thirds of Varsano's clients are individuals, rather than corporations or governments, and many of them are unversed in aeronautics – which is where his firm's other USP comes in. The Jet Business has its own iPad app, which connects to the showroom's video wall and helps clients to choose the ideal model for them. Varsano says it reduces what used to be a three-month process to one hour.
In reception is a scale model of the Gulfstream 550, which will set you back $52m. What if one's budget was more modest? "You could get a plane for a million bucks," says Varsano. "But it's going to be 35 years old." So no Blu-Ray player, then?


text:
BERKELEY, Calif. — Most airline vacationers have heard a trick or two for securing cheaper flights. From shopping for on Tuesday nights, to looking incognito or utilizing VPNs to masks your location, there aren’t any scarcity of suggestions. Nonetheless, current analysis from the Berkeley Haas Faculty of Enterprise debunks many of those low-cost flight myths. Researchers reveal that a lot of what we assume about airline pricing is off the mark.
Scientists launched into a deep dive into how a major U.S. airline units its costs. Their findings have been surprising, usually opposite to.
“There are such a lot of hacks on the market for locating cheaper airline tickets,” says examine creator Olivia Natan, an assistant professor of selling on the Haas Faculty of Enterprise, in a. “However our information reveals many of those beliefs are mistaken.”
The reality behind your airfare
Natan teamed up with 4 colleagues—Ali Hortaçsu and Timothy Schwieg from the College of Chicago, Kevin Williams from Yale, and Hayden Parsley from the College of Texas at Austin—to dive deep into the perplexing world of airline pricing. What they found in regards to the mechanics of setting airfares would possibly depart even seasoned vacationers scratching their heads.
Their examine got here away with three key takeaways about buying airline tickets and low-cost flight hacks:
Substituting Comfort for Worth: Usually, when trying to find flights, vacationers weigh comfort towards price. If one flight is simply too expensive, they could go for a barely cheaper however much less handy one.
Opposite to logic, airways usually overlook this sample. They consider the costs of seats on every particular person flight somewhat than whole seats bought in a day, “although altering the worth on one flight will have an effect on the way in which folks take into consideration all their choices,” says Natan.
Fastened Pricing Technique: Airways observe an surprising pricing technique that doesn’t align with typical market ideas. They don’t at all times consider competitor pricing. It is because they use a selected heuristic, Anticipated Marginal Seat Income-b (EMSRb), that ends in a set variety of costs for every flight.
“Airline tickets are bought by way of world distribution programs that be sure that a journey agent in Wichita sees the identical worth as you do in your pc at dwelling,” notes Natan. Subsequently, as an alternative of versatile pricing, airways have appreciable gaps between potential costs.
Lack of Inter-Departmental Coordination: One of the baffling findings was that airways don’t at all times optimize ticket costs. Regardless of the potential of maximizing income by growing ticket costs, they continuously underprice.
Natan recollects conversations with airline managers who felt “the pricing crew doesn’t know what it’s doing.” Though a income administration crew does alter costs earlier than tickets are bought, their forecasts are sometimes inflated, lowering accessible cheaper tickets by round 60 p.c. Natan believes the explanation could be miscommunication between departments or, doubtlessly, efforts to retain buyer loyalty or sidestep regulatory oversight.
Is there any solution to discover low-cost flights?
Whereas the present system might sound baffling to many, there are indicators that change is on the horizon. Airways are contemplating the adoption of extra dynamic pricing platforms sooner or later, which might doubtlessly profit non-business vacationers.
Natan does provide one piece of strong recommendation for vacationers on the lookout for low-cost flights. It could appear apparent, however hey, it’s reminder both method.
“What I can say is that costs do go up considerably 21, 14, and seven days earlier than a flight,” says Natan. “Simply purchase your ticket earlier than then.”
Whereas the pursuit of hidden hacks for discounted fares could be in useless, it’s clear that planning and reserving early stays a sensible technique.
The examine is printed within the.


text:
China has always been synonymous with low-cost and mass production. However, the ongoing slow recovery from pandemic has led to rampant inflation in pricing, since the lockdown has changed demand in the goods sector and interrupted supply chains. The new virus has led to a further lockdown and there is no knowledge what the economic future of the country would be.
Headwinds with inflation and supply chain pressures
Although experts feel global inflation should come down soon as the situation improves, it’s still true that the world is on the verge of a global inflation regime after Covid. Supply chain disruptions due to China’s zero-Covid policy have resulted in brands looking at reshoring production. The global market is dependent on China not only in the luxury segment but also for low-cost mass production.
Experts are concerned the deflationary drag may go into reverse in China. Its working-age population is expected to shrink significantly in the next few years, while rapid wage growth means labor is now more expensive. The government’s policy of ‘common prosperity’ for all threatens to drive wages even higher. If common prosperity leads to centrally-mandated increase in wage growth that far exceed productivity, then it could be more troublesome. Rising labor costs have historically tended to cause external competitiveness to deteriorate, resulting in import substitution and the destruction of domestic industry.
Meanwhile, these structural changes are happening against a backdrop of more hawkish trade policies towards China that threaten to break up supply chains. In contrast to other countries such as Mexico, which has seen similar increase in earnings, wage growth in China appears to have been justified in large part by rapid increase in productivity. Most workers in China have been paid more for producing more goods, keeping unit labor costs down and in the process becoming even more competitive.
Although Chinese customers spent on luxury brands in spring 2020, the ensuing revenge spending after Covid has encouraged many brands to open new stores or refurbish others while investing in digitalization efforts. A more significant decline in the number of workers will drive up output prices in the longer term.
Labor market a cause of concern
There is a hidden slack in other parts of China’s labor markets that need to be focussed on. Although construction has been a major source of employment before, post-Covid, there is not much need to sustain rapid house building and this will free-up workers. Also, China has a casual and unprofessional labor market with almost half of all workers operating in the shadow economy. Not all workers are mobile or possess the required skills to enter new industries. Also, absorbing these workers into more productive sectors is a must for the country to thrive.
The clothing and footwear sectors are labor-intensive, so these could be candidates for inflationary pressures to emerge but delving into data shows that a transformation here is already happening. China’s share of global textiles exports has already peaked, at around 40 per cent in 2015.
With many labour-intensive manufacturing apparel brands already having left China, the future of the country looks bleak, But global market experts know that life is like a wheel and will always come back to where it all started.


text:
Lower South Island tourism operators are ready to roll out the welcome mat at New Zealand’s biggest travel and trade event, TRENZ in Dunedin from 7 – 10 May.
TRENZ, previously known as Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand, is an annual invitational event that showcases New Zealand’s tourism industry.
It is the first time in the event’s history that TRENZ has been held in Dunedin.
Venture Southland Group Manager for tourism, community and events, Bobbi Brown said that Venture Southland had partnered with Dunedin and Tourism Waitaki to secure the event in the lower south island.
“This is a big opportunity for the south and we are excited to make the most of it and promote our tourism offerings to the world,” Brown said.
Spread over four days, TRENZ will see up to 1500 international travel and tourism buyers, media and NZ tourism operators to converge on Dunedin.
Brown said there are many benefits to be gained by TRENZ being held in the lower South Island including building industry relationships, showcasing what Southland has to offer, and leveraging off the event to secure future engagement.
Venture Southland, Tourism and Events manager, Warrick Low also emphasised the benefits of the event for trade.
“Trade is a necessary process for tourism, as it encourages sellers to include businesses that are paying them for their sales time,” Low said.
Southland will have strong representation at the event meeting with up to 660 trade and tourism representatives.
At these appointments over 100 operators will be promoted from across the Southland region through outstanding imagery, enthusiastic Southlanders and great southern hospitality and cuisine
A strong taste of Southland will also be on offer with fish and chips”, Bluff Oysters, cheese rolls, Chocolate, Salami and Moonshine to be shared with attendees.
The work associated with TRENZ extends beyond the five day event with Venture Southland hosting 100 tourism sellers on Southland famils both before and after the event.


text:
Registered members of CSM should by now have received their e-mailing of this quarter’s publications. Copies are being sent out by post shortly. If you have not received your mailing by February 20th please contact the CSM office. This quarter’s publications are: CSM Journal: this quarter we are spending some time looking at climate change. […]
Our spring 2020 conference which was to be held on Saturday 2nd May in Bognor Regis has regrettably had to be cancelled due to concerns over public gatherings in the current coronavirus outbreak. We do hope to be able to rearrange this event for later in the year.
Due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and the associated public safety measures imposed by government, the Genesis Expo in Portsmouth will be closed until further notice. You can still find out about us using this website, and our online shop is still open for business. You can get in contact with us using the ‘Contact […]


text:
Industrial scale additive manufacturing company, Titomic has announced the retirement of its chairman, leading technology entrepreneur Philip Vafiadis and the appointment of two new directors.
Titomic’s founder and managing director Jeff Lang has been appointed Interim Executive Chairman replacing the Adelaide entrepreneur while another chairman is sought.
Also joining a beefed up board are Dag Stromme, former Managing Director, Morgan Stanley (London, UK), and Humphrey Nolan, an experienced commercial leader in global industrial and distribution industries.
Lang welcomed them to the board and said: “Both have a proven record of implementing company growth with their extensive international experience working with emerging technologies and commercial strategy in global markets.
“They also bring deep corporate and technical skills to the Titomic Board that will be invaluable as we advance our global expansion.”
Vafiadis began his career in 1978 establishing VAF Research which continues to manufacture high-end home and commercial speaker systems in Adelaide.
His Innovyz commercialisation business is behind a number of important industrial and technology start-ups, including Titomic and rapid welding technology developer K-TIG.
Titomic is commercialising its Titomic Kinetic Fusion process of 3D printing, while K-TIG’s field is rapid keyhole TIG welding.
Vafiadis will remain a strategic advisor to the Company at the request of the Board under a 2-year consulting agreement.
Stromme is a professional investor and entrepreneur with close to 30 years of experience from successful private ownership and leading European and global financial institutions.
Nolan is a seasoned Board member and CEO with 30 years’ experience with global logistics companies, including with the P&O Group as Head of Corporate Development and CEO of P&O Cold Logistics.
He is currently Chairman of both the Nolan Group and Tapex Group, both distributors of technical and industrial textiles.
Picture: Philip Vafiadis
Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.


text:
The Android OS is evolving much faster than the ecosystem can handle. Chris Sauve displays this point beautifully in his analysis of Android fragmentation and the impact to developers. Android’s release cycle is annual. Ice Cream Sandwich, released in Q3 11 still has less than 1% adoption nearly six months post launch. Jelly Bean, the next iteration is scheduled for six months from now.
Carriers and operators control the release schedule for these system updates. They take time to test the new OS’s impact on the network and also to make modifications to the OS for customer differentiation. There is no question about Android’s success – Asymco forecasts 1B Android devices will be deployed in about 18 months. But how much do new OS versions matter for customers/end users?
These data indicate new OS versions don’t matter much. Even Gingerbread devices have enough price/power/utility to compete with iPhone or Windows Mobile or other alternatives. The same is true of Mac OS releases. Mountain Lion will have some benefits to Snow Leopard, but I think the OS needs of most users are satisfied.
Other differentiators are content – apps, movies, and music – and price. But on the whole, these are roughly comparable between Android and iOS. We already know how the market share will shake out. Android will win the bottom 60% of the market. And iPhone will always be a premium product. This was the strategy all along for Google and Apple.
What do you think will be the differentiator for mobile phones and operating systems in the next 3 years?


text:
The latest report from Gartner reveals that worldwide CRM software revenue amounted to US$39.5 billion in 2017, overtaking DBMS revenue, which reached US$36.8 billion in the same year.
"In 2018, CRM software revenue will continue to take the lead of all software markets and be the fastest growing software market with a growth rate of 16%," said Julian Poulter, research director at Gartner.
Poulter says that the strong growth rate of CRM software revenue is driven in particular by the segments of lead management, voice of the customer and field service management, each of which is achieving more than 20% growth.
And, Gartner says the major vendors offering CRM suites covering sales, commerce and service are showing stronger than average growth and are successful at cross-selling additional modules to existing customers.
"Organisations are keen to avoid silos of information and to obtain a 360 degree view of the customer, said Poulter.
"The 360 degree view allows better application of artificial intelligence to make the users of the CRM system more effective."
Gartner also says that the cost of General Data Protection Regulation compliance is expected to increase budgets for information security, CRM and customer experience.
According to Gartner, CRM systems typically contain vast amounts of (sensitive) personal data and are kept for a considerable amount of time, making them a more likely source of noncompliance with the GDPR than other applications.
The research firms says the cost of GDPR compliance is expected to increase the existing budget for information security, CRM and CX in the next three years and areas for technology investment include marketing technology, data loss prevention, security information and event management, and security consulting, especially in Western Europe.
"It is critical that organisations are compliant with GDPR as soon as possible, or at the very latest by 25 May, because when customers don't trust an organisation's customer data protection, they put their own safeguards in place, like providing false data or closing accounts," Bart Willemsen, research director at Gartner, warned.
Willemsen says this reduces an organisation's chances of reaching the right customers with the right offers at the right time.
"Poor CRM will lead to a privacy violation and a GDPR sanction. Application leaders need to enhance control over personal data usage throughout the data life cycle and safeguard processed personal data so that it is not used beyond the context of pre-defined and documented use cases.”


text:
Tablets and smartphones are becoming the de facto devices for going online.
Last year, per Forrester Research (citing the North American Technographics Consumer Deep Dive), three-quarters of U.S. online adult smartphone owners went online on their devices daily. Over half entered the web several times daily.
About two-thirds of all mobile phone owners had apps. The Boston-based consultancy cites data from Flurry that the mobile app audience has reached as high as 52 million at 8 p.m., rivaling the viewership of the top three TV networks during prime time.
More from “Exploring The In-App Advertising Opportunity” by Forrester analyst Jennifer Wise: Millennials index highest for app use, with 32% of mobile device users in that cohort using the programs. The percentages decrease with age.
Paradoxically perhaps, the less wealthy a consumer is the more likely they are to use apps.
Marketers are boosting mobile investment, including budgets for in-app advertising, and it is expected to reach $7 billion by 2015, Wise reports.
So how is it working for them? Not too well: 43% of U.S. smartphone app users who have seen at least one in-app ad think that they disrupt the user experience, and only around one in four finds them creative or relevant. Forty-seven percent say they just ignore ads in apps, and only 28% say the ads are relevant, per the report.
Worse news for marketers pitching physical products: App ads that people remember most are app ads. Forty-seven percent of users, when asked, say the app-served ads they most remember are ads for apps, including the one they happen to be perusing at the moment! Forty percent say they remember ads for an upgrade to the app they are using; 37% recall seeing ads for any brand, product, or service.
More on the pretzel logic of app ads for apps: The ads that most often convince consumers to research and/or make a purchase are ones for an enhancement or upgrade to the app they are using to view the ad for the app they are using.
But the opportunity to advertise isn’t going anywhere, apparently — as, per Wise, only 25% of smartphone owners and 21% of tablet owners said they would rather pay for apps than see ads. She argues that marketers need to get their strategies together if they want to boost relevancy and avoid the Great Digital Turnoff: creating disruptive, interruptive advertising.
They can do that with third-party assistance: Tapjoy can help with its incentive-based model for brand interaction; Appssavvy technology triggers ads in the temporal nooks and crannies in an app where not much is happening. Kiip rewards users during “moments of achievements.”
Needless to say, the key is value add. Wise writes, “Soon, all mobile marketing will become focused on utility — and that includes in-app advertising.” Her example: Chevrolet’s use of Zumobi for a content-based ad experience within the “Motor Trend” app took users to a six-part technology series, an in-app ad unit that provides information about the car that got an 11.2% click-through rate and 37% engagement with the series.


text:
By Iain Ferguson, Environment Manager
This year, we’re making real and significant change with our sustainability agenda with three major plastic milestones for our Co-op.
Compostable carrier bags in all our stores
Firstly, from May, we’ll finally be ranging our compostable carrier bags in all stores across the UK. We’ll no longer be manufacturing our single use carrier bags, and the cost of our compostable carrier bags will increase to 10p, in line with new government legislation.
Previously the compostable carriers were only available to stores that are in local council areas that had food waste collections, but as these are becoming more common across the country we have made the decision to make these available nationwide.
We’re also saying goodbye to Bags for Life
Since the carrier bag levy was introduced, 95% fewer single use carrier bags have been sold across the retail sector. However, there’s also been a huge increase in sales of Bags for Life. In many circumstances, customers are opting to purchase a Bag for Life over a single use carrier bag and research tells us that customers tend to use these bags as single use.
Looking at our transactions, we know that only around 1% of customers bring these bags back to recycle them for new ones. As our Bags for Life are made from thicker plastic than a conventional single use carrier bag, and therefore have a higher carbon footprint to produce, we know there is a lot more plastic going to waste and we need to address this now.
The increased charge for single use carrier bags from 5p to 10p, along with the plans for universal food waste collections across England, has given us an opportunity to re-evaluate our approach to providing carrier bags. So, once we’ve sold through existing stock at an increased cost of 20p to prevent waste, we’ll remove Bags for Life from our range.
Our compostable carrier bag, alongside the right range of reusable bags to meet our customers’ needs, gives us what we believe to be the most sustainable carrier bag offer for all our members and customers.
We’re lobbying to government to drive change
The changes we’ve outlined are just a small step in a wider conversation on sustainability and plastic. We can’t change the world alone, and that’s why we’re also calling on the government to do three things to further strengthen the existing carrier bag charge and drive change across the retail sector:
- Require all bags subject to the single use carrier bag charge to be compostable certified to BS EN 13432, at a minimum price of 10p, wherever sold.
- Require reusable bags (which are currently exempt from the carrier bag charge) to be charged at a minimum 50p price point to prevent customers using these, in effect, as single use bags.
- Require major retailers to report to Defra on the sale of all reusable bags as well as “single-use” bags to ensure that future policy development can be conducted on the basis of the complete picture.
Since the carrier bag levy was introduced in 2015, we’ve been selling 1.5 billion fewer carrier bags a year than we were in 2006. That equates to around 9,300 tonnes less single use plastic being used once and thrown away; the equivalent of 1,300 old London buses. This is an incredible example of the impact that can be had thanks to the combined action from Government and industry. We’re looking forward to continue co-operating for a fairer and more sustainable world.


text:
An outgrowth of the Trinity Church of Escalon meal program, the adjacent Clothes Closet is now open to the community one Saturday a month. The closet, which has items for all ages, will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, with the next scheduled opening on Jan. 7.
Church secretary Julie Marconett said the once-a-month opening is overseen by Cathleen Chapman, who also was involved in the meal program put on through the church.
The twice monthly dinners have been discontinued for the time being, said Marconett, as attendance had fallen off, but the first Saturday opening of the clothes closet will hopefully fill a need in the community.
Trinity Church is at 1900 California Street; the clothes closet is downstairs, underneath the sanctuary and across the parking lot from the multi-purpose center where the meals were hosted.
“We don’t need a lot of donations right now,” Marconett said, noting that the clothes closet has received a lot of clothing items over the past few months. “We could use coats, though, it is the middle of winter; that is something people do need.”
Gently used or new coats are being accepted and Marconett said the idea behind opening up the clothes closet is to give people the opportunity to obtain clothing they might not otherwise be able to afford. Anyone in the community in need is welcome to visit the clothes closet the first Saturday of each month.
“We’ve done it for a couple of months now but we haven’t publicized it too much,” said Marconett.
With the cold weather now, though, officials want to make sure everyone knows the closet is open and available.
“If people need some specific type of clothing, they can come in and take a look,” explained Marconett. “It is free.”
There is a wide variety of sizes and styles, items for all ages, for men, women and children. More information about the clothes closet is available by contacting the church at 838-3000.


text:
Italian startups are making their entry into the United States, and cities like Boston and New York are increasingly becoming the main stage for highly prominent events in the field of innovation and investment. One of these resonant events is "Primo Innovare 2023", organized by 42N Advisors, an association made up of over twenty Italian experts in the entrepreneurial, academic and professional sectors, rooted in the United States for many years, with the aim of bringing together the best Italian startups with a group of prominent American investors. The prestigious event will be held at the Italian Consulate in New York on September 12 and at the Italian Consulate in Boston on September 14, 2023.
The growth of Italian startups is not just a trend in the United States. Even in Europe, the startup ecosystem is gaining momentum, and Italy is emerging as a key player in this scenario. While the “Primo Innovare 2023” event lays the foundation for the success of Italian startups in the US, it is worth examining how it compares to the European landscape.
In Europe, the startup ecosystem is experiencing constant growth. According to data from Startup Europe Partnership (SEP), European startups raised a total of over €43 billion in funding in 2022, an increase of 25% compared to the previous year. Italy has contributed significantly to this growth, with numerous emerging companies attracting investment both nationally and internationally.
Italy is rapidly establishing itself as one of the protagonists of the European startup ecosystem. Emerging Italian companies are operating in a wide range of sectors, from agrotechnology to sustainable mobility, from digital healthcare to artificial intelligence. These startups are demonstrating their ability to compete internationally and attract significant investments.
While the United States remains an irresistible attraction for many Italian startups, it is important to also consider the opportunities and challenges in Europe. While the US offers a business-friendly environment and a large investor base, Europe presents a highly diversified market and fertile ground for cross-border collaboration.
"Primo Innovare 2023" is a significant step in the direction of greater collaboration between Italy and the United States in the field of innovation and enterprise. Italian startups have demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit and can find opportunities both in the United States and in Europe.
The requirements for a startup that wants to participate are:
Have sold and invoiced your product/service to at least two customers.
Demonstrate raising at least $100,000 in third-party funding.
Ensure the presence of at least two individuals capable of developing the business in the United States and at least one figure internationally recognized as an expert in the specific application.
Scalability, market and technological.
The company considered best will get one year of free assistance from 42N to establish a headquarters in the United States and build a solid relationship with financiers.
The startups selected to participate in this edition:
- Alia Therapeutics
- MYWAY AI
- Oversonic Robotics
- Real Bowl
- Sinergy Flow
The growth of the startup ecosystem in Europe, together with the strength of Italian startups, represents extraordinary potential for the future of innovation and enterprise. We are eager to see the results that this initiative will produce and to closely follow the path of Italian startups that are trying to establish themselves globally.


text:
Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., speaks during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California, U.S., on Monday, June 4, 2018.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Steam Link, a free app that enables gamers to play PC games on mobile devices, is now available to download on Apple’s platforms, including the iPhone, iPad, and the Apple TV.
The introduction of Steam Link on Apple devices is a surprise after an episode in May 2018 in which Valve, Steam’s parent company, publicly said that Apple’s App Store had rejected the app for “business conflicts. “
Steam Link uses the processing power of a desktop or laptop PC to stream graphically-intensive games purchased on Steam to mobile devices or set-top boxes over a home network.
Games are a major component of Apple’s App Store, and Steam is essentially a cross-platform app store for PC games. App Store rules allow Apple to reject any app that includes a distribution platform for apps, but last summer, Apple updated its guidelines to enable mirroring services like Steam Link, as long as purchases are made on the desktop.
“We would love for Valve’s games and services to be on iOS and AppleTV,” Apple’s senior vice president for marketing, Phil Schiller, said in an email to some customers last May. “Unfortunately, the review team found that Valve’s Steam iOS app, as currently submitted, violates a number of guidelines around user generated content, in-app purchases, content codes, etc.”
Steam Link has been available for Android users in beta since last year. In March, Apple announced Apple Arcade, a subscription service of Apple-backed games for iPhones and other Apple devices.
The Steam Link app requires a 5Ghz wi-fi network or a wired ethernet connection. It supports the Steam controller, as well as controllers made for iPhones and iPads, the company said in a statement.
Apple didn’t immediately return a request for comment. A Valve representative did not specify if any changes have been made to the Steam Link app in order to secure Apple’s approval.


text:
Fisker Inc. opened reservations for the its sustainable electric luxury SUV, arriving in 2022, through its website and native mobile app – available globally on the App Store and Google Play store. Reservations are set at $250 (U.S.) per vehicle and are fully refundable.
The Fisker Ocean startsg at $379 (U.S.) per month via the mobile app in 2022. There are five easy-to-choose option packages for Fisker Ocean that will be available to reservation holders closer to the end of 2020. Customers will be able to see the vehicles and option packages when Fisker begins rolling out its experience centers in shopping districts and airports, as well as book test drives through the app closer to the start of production.
- Reservations are now open through the Fisker mobile app or the Fisker website – set at $250 (U.S.): Drivers can get behind the wheel of the Fisker Ocean starting at $379 (U.S.) per month (with $2,999 down before delivery in 2022, which includes both initiation and activation fees). Fisker will also offer a “$0 drive off” option through a fully financed $2,999 down payment for credit approved customers. When a reservation is placed, exclusive new teaser images of the Fisker Ocean are revealed in advance of the vehicle’s public unveiling in January.
- Experience centers and test drives: Customers will be able to see the vehicles and option packages at select Fisker experience centers in 2020 – as well as schedule test drives through their mobile app in 2021.
A customer can return the vehicle in one month, eight months, 22 months or several years. No long-term contracts, with 30,000 miles per year included.
Fisker will pick up and return vehicles when maintenance is required, or service is requested – signaled by the onboard system or through the app.
The Fisker Ocean is targeted to begin production at the end of 2021 – with the first high-volume deliveries projected for 2022.


text:
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI): India will press for a permanent solution to the issue of public stock holding of grains for food security programmes and strongly protect the interests of farmers and fishermen at the 12th ministerial meet of the World Trade Organization, beginning on Sunday. The Indian delegation is being led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
The four-day 12th ministerial conference (MC) will start on June 12 in Geneva. The meeting is taking place after a gap of four years and in the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia war and uncertain global economic situation. The last time it was held in Argentina in 2017. MC is the highest decision-making body of the 164-member World Trade Organization (WTO).
The main issues in the meeting include WTO response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including patent waiver; agriculture and food security; WTO reforms; proposed fisheries subsidies agreement; and extension of the moratorium on electronic transmission.
The main issues under this category that could figure in the meeting include public stockholding for food security purposes, trade-distorting domestic subsidies, market access, the special safeguard mechanism, export restrictions and prohibition, and transparency.
New Delhi will pitch for finding a permanent solution to the issue of public stock holding (PSH) for its food security programmes.
PSH programme is a policy tool under which the government procures crops like rice and wheat from farmers at minimum support price (MSP), and stores and distributes foodgrains to the poor. MSP is normally higher than the prevailing market rates and sells these at a low price to ensure food security for over 800 million poor people. However, the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture limits the ability of a government to purchase food at MSP.
Under global trade norms, a WTO member country’s food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.
“Therefore, seeking a permanent solution is of utmost importance for India,” an expert said.
India has sought a fast-track resolution of the issue with no linkage with domestic support.
As part of a permanent solution, India has asked for measures like amendments in the formula to calculate the food subsidy cap and the inclusion of programmes implemented after 2013 under the ambit of the Peace Clause.
Under the Peace Clause, WTO members agreed to refrain from challenging any breach of the prescribed ceiling by a developing nation at the dispute settlement forum of the WTO. This clause will stay till a permanent solution is found to the food stockpiling issue.
India also wants the WTO to allow exports of foodgrains from public stocks for international food aid and for humanitarian purposes, especially on a government-to-government basis, an official said. The current WTO norms do not permit a member country to export foodgrains from public stock holdings as they are subsidised grains.
A top government official has stated that India would support efforts to improve the working of the WTO but its key pillars like special and differential treatment for less developed and developing nations, equal voice and dispute settlement mechanism should be retained while undertaking reforms.
The WTO is a multilateral body, which formulates rules for global exports and imports and adjudicates disputes between two or more than two countries on trade-related issues.
“We believe that WTO is an important organisation. Its multi-lateral nature should never be affected and therefore, we support any efforts to improve its working.
“But the pillars of the WTO — which are special and differential treatment for the less developed and developing nations, consensus based approach that is the equal voice that every member has, transparency requirements, rule of law and dispute settlement mechanism. All these pillars of the WTO should be maintained when we are trying to do WTO reforms,” the official said.
Members are negotiating a fishery subsidies agreement with the objective of eliminating subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and curbing subsidies for overfished stocks; and overfishing and overcapacity with a view to promoting sustainable fishing.
It is estimated that 34 per cent of global stocks are overfished compared with 10 per cent in 1974. These figures reflect that the fish reserves are being exploited at a rate where the fish population cannot replenish itself.
Countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, Canada and the US, are pressing for disciplining the subsidies. Nations like India, and Indonesia want flexibility under special and differential treatment.
“India is committed to concluding the negotiations so long as it provides space for equitable growth and freedom in developing fishing capacities for the future without locking members into disadvantageous arrangements in perpetuity,” a source said.
India has highlighted that developing countries not engaged in distant water fishing should be exempted from overfishing subsidy prohibitions for at least 25 years, as the sector is still at a nascent stage.
Extension of customs duties moratorium on e-commerce trade: India will strongly oppose the continuation of the moratorium on customs duties on e-commerce trade at the upcoming ministerial of the WTO and push for putting an end to it, as it is adversely impacting the developing countries.
Citing the importance of developing nations to preserve policy space for their digital advancement, regulate imports and generate revenue through customs duties, the official said India believes that a reconsideration of the moratorium is crucial.
WTO members have agreed not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions since 1998, and the moratorium has been periodically extended at successive ministerial conferences (MC).
WTO’s response to the pandemic:
India and South Africa have proposed a temporary waiver of certain provisions of a WTO agreement on intellectual property rights to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. They have stated that the move would help in fast vaccination and revival of the world economy.


text:
There is no fear of shortage of rice and food stocks in the country: Food Minister
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar said that currently the country has the highest amount of rice stock ever. Still, initiatives have been taken to increase rice imports to ensure food security and control the market. Aman cultivation in the country may be slightly disrupted due to adverse weather conditions. Not only in the country, but in the whole world there is a fear of disruption of food production.
The minister said this at a press conference organized at Naogaon Circuit House auditorium on Tuesday afternoon on the occasion of distribution of rice and flour among OMS and food friendly program and TCB card holders across the country.
Stating that the rice collection campaign will continue for two more days, the Food Minister said that 19 lakh 50 thousand 531 metric tons of rice has been collected in the current Boro collection campaign till yesterday Monday. This stock of rice is the highest ever. The collection drive will continue for two more days (today and tomorrow, Wednesday). In two days, the remaining 50 thousand metric tons of rice will be collected. Almost half of the rice collection target has been met as the farmers are getting better price of paddy in the market this time. The main objective of government procurement of paddy is that the farmers get better price of paddy in the market. That goal has also been met.
Sadhan Chandra Majumdar also said that there is no danger of shortage not only in rice but also in other food stocks. There was a problem in wheat storage, that too has been resolved. Arrangements have already been made to import wheat from Russia and Ukraine.
Sadhan Chandra Majumdar said that the OMS dealer has been increased by three times to reduce the suffering of the people, “Recently, the price of rice suddenly increased by five to six rupees beyond our calculation. People are suffering because of it. In order to reduce the suffering of the people, the OMS and food-friendly programs will be launched across the country from September 1 on the directive of the Prime Minister. Earlier, 813 OMS centers were operational across the country. Now that number has been increased to 2 thousand 363. Earlier an OMS dealer used to get one ton of rice allocation. Now every dealer will get two metric tons of rice. Apart from this, three and a half metric tons of rice will be allocated for truck sales in cities.
Sadhan Chandra Majumdar said that the price of each kg of rice distributed through OMS will be Tk 30. Preference will be given to TCB card holders at OMS centers. TCB card holders can buy five kg of rice twice a month by showing their card and common people by showing their national identity card. It will also ensure that one person cannot buy rice repeatedly.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar also said that rice will be distributed to 50 lakh families across the country through the food friendly programme. Each family can buy 30 kg of rice once a month at the rate of Tk 15 per kg. Out of the target 50 lakh households, 80 percent of households have already been screened. The verification of remaining 20 percent families will be completed by next month. Smart card will be given to every beneficiary family using digital device. As a result, there will be no scope for irregularities in the food friendly program. Meanwhile, due to reduction in oil prices, OMS and food friendly programs, the price of rice in the market will come down to a bearable level within a few days.
Rafiqul Islam, President of Naogaon District Rice Owners Group, District Food Controller Alamgir Kabir and other officials of Food Directorate were present in the press conference.


text:
ForexMinute.com – The Bitcoin’s epidemic popularity is exploding further with incoming capital investments, merchant adoption and constant media buzzes. In the meantime, a number of countries have also introduced new regulatory frameworks for the cryptocurrency users and businesses, in order to generate a decent revenue for national exchequers.
But the Bitcoin’s influence is not limited to being optimistic. Apart from a handful of countries, some have openly banned the use of any kind of alternate currency ecosystem, citing the risks and illegal activities associated with it. Russia and Bangladesh are some among them.
A simple Wikipedia research might give you a one-liner look at the current Bitcoin policies around the world. But it is Mercator Advisory Group, which have decided to go two-steps ahead to deliver world a smartly researched paper on digital currency regulations around the world. Titled “Global Digital Currency Regulations: Divergent Paths” is an analysis on Bitcoin its growth as a cryptocurrency and trading asset, and mainly its regulations by different countries.
“The global payments industry has been taken aback by the rise of the new payment technology represented by Bitcoin and other digital currencies, which at its core has the potential to radically change the paradigm in which electronic payments are handled. Understandably, the response to this paradigm-changing technology has been mixed among regulators since true understanding of the benefits and opportunities as well as the disadvantages and consequences is hard to come by” says the note’s author Tristan Hugo-Webb, who also is the Associate Director of the International Advisory Service.
Traders and enthusiast, who are hoping to understand the future of cryptocurrency sector within their respective nations, are recommended to go through this paper. Mercator Advisory Group is a world renowned independent research and advisory services firm, with its central interest in payments and banking sector.
It is currently unavailable on public forums, but can be purchased at the Merchant Advisory Group website.
To contact the reporter of the story: Yashu Gola at email@example.com
But the Bitcoin’s influence is not limited to being optimistic. Apart from a handful of countries, some have openly […]
Leading derivatives exchange operator, CME Group announced in a press release today that it will launch options on its bitcoin… Read More
For the past year many participants within the crypto markets have been looking towards the official launch of Bakkt as… Read More
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A series of online heists is robbing even the most tech-savvy people in the Triangle.According to… Read More
To say Colombia doesn’t have the best cryptocurrency regulations in the world would be an understatement. As it stands, crypto,… Read More
ETH/USD went up from $218.55 to $220.60. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator is trending in the overbought zone. ETH/USD… Read More


text:
The Increasing Demand For Electric Cars
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
This week Tesla began closing its retail stores. The electric carmaker announced last week that it would only sell cars online. The cost savings, the company says, will allow it to offer its Model 3 for the long-promised price of $35,000. Until now, Tesla has only been offering higher-end versions of the Model 3. Well, this got us wondering how are electric cars selling these days, so we have brought back journalist John Voelcker. He writes about the electric car market. Hi there, John.
JOHN VOELCKER: Hey - glad to be here.
KELLY: Glad to have you with us. So safe to say that electric cars are still just a tiny fraction of the overall car market, car sales in this country - like, 2 percent - but the trend is headed up.
VOELCKER: That's exactly right. We actually went from 200,000 in 2017 to 360,000 in 2018. Of the 160,000-odd increase, about 140,000 of them were Tesla Model 3s. So really the other makers haven't sold an enormously larger amount. It was all about Tesla.
KELLY: Another factor at play here has been this fairly big federal tax credit aimed at making electric cars more affordable. This is a $7,500 credit that you get if you buy an electric car. But I understand for some automakers, this is being phased out. Explain.
VOELCKER: The way the credit was set up 10 years ago, every maker could sell 200,000 cars in the U.S. that were eligible for the credit, and then it started to sunset. After a couple of quarters, it would go to half. After two more quarters, it would go to 25 percent. And then it would end. And right now, Tesla is into that process, and GM has just entered it, which incidentally means if you're buying electric Chevrolet, buy it before the end of March 30.
KELLY: OK. And how big a factor has this credit - this $7,500 dollar credit - been in people making decisions about whether to go electric or not?
VOELCKER: The few surveys that have been out there show that the credit is important, although it likely differs somewhat for people who buy Teslas. Remember; Tesla started out with cars that cost $75,000 or more, which by definition is the very highest end of the market...
VOELCKER: ...Whereas the lower priced cars from manufacturers like Nissan and GM and Volkswagen are much more sensitive to a reduction, let's say, from $37,500 to $30,000. That's a big chunk of savings.
KELLY: Are carmakers making any money off electric cars yet?
VOELCKER: I don't think battery electric cars are profitable for any carmaker in the world right now. Think about the cost of a phone battery, and then think about the cost of several thousand of those. That's the equivalent in an electric car. While those battery costs are coming down with better technologies, economies of scale and so forth, it takes several years.
The problem is that manufacturers don't necessarily want to make electric cars, Tesla excepted. But starting in 2012, California really forced them to. California had a zero emission vehicle sales requirement. The tax credits helped them sell the required numbers of electric cars. But the U.S. is not the majority of the electric car market globally. The important driver for electric cars is China.
KELLY: So you're saying this is U.S. carmakers making calculations based on not the U.S. market but based on China.
VOELCKER: U.S. carmakers understand that in order to be competitive in China in future years, they're going to have to sell a huge volumes of electric cars. People drive lower distances there. And there are enough first-time buyers, and people are more open to innovative kinds of cars in China that electric cars, in some ways, aren't as hard to sell.
In the States, we drive a long way. We don't have functional mass transit in most of the country which a place like Europe does, so you may not need quite as long a range in an electric car. And electric cars have been enormously politicized. All of that has led some auto industry analysts to wonder whether the U.S. becomes - you could call it an island, or one analyst called it a backwater where the rest of the world embarks on this transition more aggressively and the U.S. does not.
KELLY: That is freelance auto writer John Voelcker. Thanks so much.
VOELCKER: Thank you for having me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Port of NY/NJ strives to keep cargo flowing
November 10, 2020
(American Shipper) Port of New York and New Jersey officials announced Monday they are “taking extra measures to keep the supply chain fluid.”
The port set a monthly container record in August with 688,365 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It then broke that record in September by handling 720,969 TEUs, a 15.4% year-over-year increase.
Last week, the port attributed September’s volume record to U.S. retailers stocking up for the holiday season as well as “growing concerns of future supply chain disruptions.” The port did not identify the source of those possible disruptions, but the United States is again setting daily records for new COVID-19 cases.
Monday’s announcement did attribute surging freight volumes “to several effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including retailers replenishing depleted stocks, a transition to the ‘stay-at-home’ economy and inventory management strategies that incorporate more ‘just-in-case’ stock levels.”
Please contact us for further information or questions – firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
Tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 5, fast food workers in more than 100 cities across the country are going on a historic strike. Will you be joining an action near you?
Calls for a living wage at fast food restaurants are growing louder each day. People of faith and worker justice advocates are walking in solidarity with brave workers standing up to fast food industry giants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s. Workers are calling on them to pay at least $15 dollars an hour so all workers can provide for themselves and their families. Fast food corporations CAN afford to pay their workers more. Now it’s time to amplify that call.
Earlier this week, I received an email from Maria Trisler, a McDonalds workers in Illinois who plans to strike tomorrow:
I’m going on strike because I can’t make ends meet for me and my 12-year-old boy on the $8.35 I make at McDonald’s. It’s just 10 cents more than minimum wage here in Peoria, Illinois.
I’m striking because not only can McDonald’s afford to pay us more, but time and time again they’ve shown just how out of touch they are with what it’s like to work for them – and try scrape by on poverty wages.
People of faith are standing with fast food and retail workers like Maria in their communities because as all religions affirm fair pay for an honest day's work. Too often, big corporations like McDonalds (with inflated CEO pay and healthy profit margins) are paying their workers poverty wages, forcing them to use charity and government aid programs just to make ends meet. It’s immoral, and it’s time to call of an end to that practice.


text:
FIBO INNOVATION & TREND AWARD 2018: These are the most innovative fitness products of the year
How can physical exercise be linked to brain fitness? Does the third dimension help with customer loyalty? And what can insects do to help the sustainability of the fitness industry? The FIBO INNOVATION & TREND Award 2018 lives up to its name and provides new momentum for the international fitness and health sector with its award winners. 108 companies competed for the coveted award presented by FIBO and companies from Germany, Belgium and Switzerland asserted themselves at the end of the day. They were recognised in the presence of 400 top representatives from the European fitness industry at the European Health and Fitness Forum on 11 April. The award-winning products at a glance.
Bodytracking in 3D
Those going in for sports are motivated by success. This is why capturing exercise results on an App or fitness tracker is a big trend. With the App 3D Body Tracking the Swiss manufacturer BODYGEE AG now allows fitness clubs and personal trainers to demonstrate to fitness fans the positive changes in their bodies realistically. Weight loss, muscle gain and firmer body contours are captured with hand-held scanners and displayed in real 3D by means of a web-based application. “So far, there has been no adequate way to keep track of exercise progress in terms of changed body shape. The App now creates a new data pool for clients thereby promoting customer retention and loyalty,” the jury felt, praising the award winner in the category “Digital Fitness”.
Tear-resistant latex bands
Latex bands are very popular – both in health training and physiotherapy but also in strength training. The Belgian manufacturer MSD Europe now makes resistance training with bands even safer. Thanks to the innovative Snap-Stop® technology the band does not even painfully snap back when damaged or under excessive stress. “The company has succeeded in extending a well-established training system to include a meaningful product component that serves to minimise the risk of injuries,” said the jury explaining their decision to award the MSD Snap-Stop® with the FIBO INNOVATION & TREND Award in the category “Health/ Prevention”.
Protein beer for the club bar counter
An innovative alternative to protein shakes was developed by Hamburg start-up JoyBräu: a non-alcoholic protein beer. The refreshingly tangy sports beverage contains 21 grams of protein per 0.33l bottle – roughly 50% of which is high-quality BCAA, plus L-carnitine and Beta-L-alanine. For two years the two founders Erik Dimter and Tristan Brümmer have been working on the right recipe, together with the Technical University Berlin. It has now been patented. “JoyBräu has managed to further develop a popular beverage into a healthy, fitness-oriented drink,” said the jury commenting on the award winner in the “Lifestyle / Life Balance / Wellness” category.
Cognitive power training
Exercising both body and mind in just one studio session – this is possible with the Power-Area by xelerate® Trainingssysteme, the award winner in the “Performance” category. The interactive training area specifies tasks and running paths and features built-in sensors to check whether the sportsperson is executing them correctly. This means not only physical speed, coordination, stamina and strength are trained but also perception, the ability to take decisions, anticipate and swiftly adapt to new situations. “The Power-Area supports coordination, motor skills as well as performance while incorporating gamification elements in the training,” was the jury’s verdict about the training system by Novotec Medical. “The special added value: here up to nine persons can be trained in a group.”
Sustainable thanks to insect protein
Protein bars made from insects – this interesting product alternative for fitness club counters was developed by Cologne start-up SWARM Nutrition. The bars contain essential amino acids as well as important micro nutrients and are attractive for club members with an interest in sustainable food. “Insects only require a fraction of the feed, land and water required for conventional protein sources like animal meat or whey and they produce hardly any green-house gases,” announces the company that received the award in the “Start-up” category. “SWARM Nutrition has picked up on a forward-looking trend,” said the jury full of praise and “it focuses on sustainability so that this theme can now also make inroads in the fitness sector.”
The international expert jury
The winners of the FIBO INNOVATION & TREND Award 2018 were selected by an international jury of experts. Members included Nathalie Smeeman, Executive Director of the European industry association Europe Active; Prof. Dr. Niels Nagel, Branch Manager at DIFG e.V.; Prof. Dr. Ingo Froboese, Professor for Prevention and Rehabilitation at the German Sports University Cologne, Heike Schönegge, editor at the FIT FOR FUN magazine and Prof. Dr. Thomas Rieger, founding dean of the Sport, Media & Event academy at the University of Applied Sciences Europe.
Press release [doc l 280 kb]
Foto: FIBO Award Winner 2018 (Credit: FIBO) [jpg l mb]
Foto 1: FIBO Award Winner BODYGEE (Credit: Bodygee) [jpg l 3mb]
Foto 2: FIBO Award Winner MSD Europe (Credit: MSD Europe) [jpg l 4mb]
Foto 3: FIBO Award Winner JoyBräu (Credit: JoyBräu GmbH) [jpg l 1.5 mb]
Foto 4: FIBO Award Winner Novotec (Credit: Novotec Medical) [jpg l 990 kb]
Foto 5: FIBO Award Winner SWARM (Credit: SWARM Nutrition GmbH) [jpg l 4.5 mb]


text:
Morgan Stanley caused a stir on Tuesday when it put out a "bear case" scenario of $10. Now Citi is getting in on the act.Investingread more
Qualcomm unlawfully suppressed competition in the market for cellphone chips and used its dominant position to impose excessive licensing fees, a U.S. judged ruled.Technologyread more
Target's e-commerce sales also surged 42%, as shoppers increasingly turned to its curbside pickup service for online orders, something Amazon can't offer.Retailread more
Homeowners are taking advantage of lower interest rates, rushing to refinance their mortgages before rates potentially turn higher again.Real Estateread more
Lowe's shares plummeted 8% before the bell Wednesday after the company posted mixed fiscal first-quarter results and cut its forecast for the year, as higher costs weighed on...Retailread more
Department stores are being hung out to dry as Kohl's shares fall after earnings, but some experts still see opportunity in the space.Trading Nationread more
It may be years from visiting your neighborhood, but a walking robot is part of Ford's vision for how its autonomous vehicles will deliver packages.Technologyread more
Brazilian makeup brand Natura Cosmeticos agreed to buy Avon Products, according to two media reports early on Wednesday.Retailread more
Consumers in China are taking to social media to express their support for Huawei as the U.S. government looks to ramp up pressure on the Chinese smartphone maker.Technologyread more
Tensions between the two parties have heightened in recent months as the campaign for seats in the Brussels and Strasbourg-based parliament has crescendoed.Europe Politicsread more
St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard expressed optimism that the United States and China will reach a deal to end their trade war.World Economyread more
The Federal Reserve needs to take note of the economic forces already weighing on the U.S. economy before it plans more rate hikes for 2019, CNBC's Jim Cramer argued after yet another wild trading session on Wall Street.
"It's important to recognize that the most important inputs ... for future inflation are already going lower, not higher. It'd be crazy to ignore that," he said Tuesday. "While I think [Fed Chair Jerome] Powell's been mistaken in his approach, he's not crazy. The man is prudent — there's no reason for him to be rash, especially not with the deflationary impact of the strong dollar helping him. "
As the strong dollar squeezes global companies' profits because overseas currencies are translated into fewer dollars, higher interest rates are crimping domestic demand for real estate, Cramer warned on "Mad Money."
"We've seen steady deceleration in real estate and construction projects at a host of banks. American Electric Power, ... the biggest utility in the country, talked about a downtick in activity, " he said. "We know that housing starts and housing sales are just abysmal. And while Home Depot assured us of stronger sales, it acknowledged that housing is slowing. "
Worse, U.S. crude oil prices just reached a one-year low after 12 consecutive days of declines, and prices of basic economic building blocks including lumber, copper, chemicals and paper are falling, the "Mad Money" host noted.
"The action, to me, screams 'slowdown,'" he said. "Yes, we still have wage inflation, I know. People are making a little more money. But how long will that last if all of these important commodities are turning down?"
At the same time, President Donald Trump's administration is in the heat of a trade dispute with China, which is expected to come to a head when Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G-20 summit later this month.
Cramer said the slide in commodity prices could be tied back to a weaker Chinese economy and added that he was "getting inklings that our companies that do a lot of business in China ... are putting the hurt on China itself."
That, paired with White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow's more positive remarks on Tuesday about U.S.-China trade talks, leaves "room for serious negotiations with China" ahead of G-20, Cramer argued.
"So, let's watch weakness in this country and in China," he told investors. "As crazy as it sounds, both are actually bullish for the stock market — although not for the companies or individuals involved — because weakness means we're more likely to get a rational Fed and possibly some kind of trade deal."


text:
With its adorable styling and (in Trailhawk form) genuine off-road ability, the Jeep Renegade proves that a tiny crossover can still do honor to the Jeep name.
Now that the Renegade is in showrooms, it’s easy to forget that Jeep has been here before — recently, in fact. The slightly larger Compass and Patriot are still in showrooms, but they’ve never garnered the positive feedback of their new little brother.
The Renegade would seem to make these two related models redundant, but a new report claims that at least one of them may soon get a redesign. A replacement for the Compass could debut next spring at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, according to Auto Express.
The updated model would reportedly sit between the Renegade and the Cherokee in Jeep’s lineup, and be aimed at compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Mazda CX-5. After its Geneva debut, the new Compass could go on sale by 2017.
Expected engine choices will include the 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder recently introduced on the European version of the Cherokee, plus a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder shared with the Renegade and the Fiat 500X. The latter seems like a shoo-in for the U.S., but the diesel probably wouldn’t be offered here.
When it first debuted as a 2007 model, the Compass featured unusual (to say the least), car-like styling. It was meant to boost the Jeep brand’s appeal with a wider range of consumers, but Jeep eventually retreated and gave the Compass a different front fascia inspired by the Grand Cherokee.
One thing Jeep didn’t have when it was designing the first-generation Compass was a good selection of small-vehicle platforms, but thanks to Chrysler’s merger with Fiat, that’s no longer the case. The Italian-sourced platforms used for the Cherokee and Renegade seem like solid choices for a third new crossover.
Another question regards the fate of the Compass’ twin, the Patriot. This model is essentially the same vehicle, but with more traditional Jeep styling. With the Renegade now in the mix and persistent criticism that too many crossovers might dilute the brand, the Patriot seems to be on thin ice.
- Jeep is launching its first two electric SUVs in the U.S. in 2024
- Geneva Motor Show canceled due to coronavirus outbreak
- Toyota gives its sweet, race-ready Supra the green flag for production
- Toyota has a new electric car for you — and it’s about the size of a golf cart
- The first fully electric Lexus production car may not go after Tesla


text:
San Francisco-based retail giant Gap Inc., announced plans to shutter its online footwear-driven unit Piperlime by the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2015.
Marc Crossman has resigned from his position at chief executive officer of Joe’s Jeans Inc.
Like the massive data breach at Target in late 2013, the news last fall that a breach may have affected 56 million credit and debit cards at Home Depot made headlines, but according to EarthLink Chief Security Officer Peter Chronis, the number of data breaches in the last year was even higher.
The debut run of the SoCal Materials Show got off to a brisk start as manufacturers and brands crowded the aisles of the California Market Center’s penthouse on the hunt for sourcing materials for footwear, accessories and apparel.
Fashion Collab x Blogger Influence
Prior to the launch of its new plus-size line Ava & Viv, Target brought in the fashion critics.
And the Official Textile Is...
A Massachusetts lawmaker has introduced a bill to make gingham (the cotton fabric, not the familiar plaid) the “official textile of the Commonwealth.”
MBFW Berlin’s Pitch-Perfect Parody
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin has released an ad that perfectly captures the unattainable cool, lush photography and WAY-too-serious absurdity of fashion advertising.
Wells Fargo opened a new commercial banking office in New York to better serve the city’s $98 billion apparel industry.
Technology | Retail
In a survey released during the National Retail Federation’s Big Show and annual conference in New York, the IBM Institute for Business Value found that consumers’ growing enthusiasm for online shopping and “digital interaction with retailers” is not matched by their actual behavior.
Los Angeles–based financial-services company B. Riley Financial Inc. named Steven H. Reiner to the newly created position of chief business development officer, asset dispositions, for the company’s Great American Group LLC subsidiary.


text:
Magmic has announced the release of The New York Times Crosswords for BlackBerry Playbook. This new tablet edition give users access to the same daily crossword puzzles featured in The New York Times print edition but with an elegant tablet user interface.
This free edition comes with a week of free puzzles as well as the 6000+ puzzle archive. The Playbook edition also sports a worldwide online leaderboard, can be played in either portrait or widescreen and you can solve the puzzle in either pen or pencil.
Subscribers to the service will get the daily puzzles as well as an archive of classics with over 6000 classic crosswords. Subscription packages are offered in month, half year and year-long subscription packages.
New York Times Crosswords is also available on iPad, iOS, and BlackBerry.


text:
"The Champagne should probably be kept on ice, at least until the two presidents put pen to paper," said state-owned media China Daily.Traderead more
U.S. stock index futures turned lower after China said it needed to have further discussions before it would sign off on the so-called phase one trade deal President Trump...US Marketsread more
Analysts say the partial U.S.-China trade deal doesn't touch on thorny issues plaguing both sides, and warn talks could break down again.World Economyread more
Economists polled by Reuters had expected Chinese exports denominated in the U.S. dollar to fall by 3% and imports to decline by 5.2% in September, compared to a year ago.China Economyread more
Economists Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer won the 2019 Nobel Economics Prize for their work in fighting global poverty, the Royal Swedish Academy of...World Newsread more
Boeing's board removed CEO Dennis Muilenburg as chairman amid the fall out of two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people.Aerospace & Defenseread more
The U.K. and EU are gearing up for what could be the busiest week in British politics since June 2016.Europe Politicsread more
The U.S. had plans to hike duties on at least $250 billion in Chinese goods to 30% from 25% on Tuesday. Despite the partial trade deal, some banks on Sunday wrote that tariff...Marketsread more
"It seems like what the two leaders have done is try to set some of the thorny political issues to the side," said Dhruva Jaishankar, director of the U.S. Initiative at the...Asia Politicsread more
Beijing will be opening up its financial industry to foreign ownership from January, namely in the areas of futures, mutual funds and securities.China Economyread more
The industry has pulled in $322 billion over the past six months, the fastest pace since the second half of 2008.Marketsread more
Soft data from the world's second-largest economy could exacerbate global growth woes and weigh on markets this week.
Chinese foreign trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), consumer prices and producer prices for September are due and may raise debate about whether Beijing needs to implement additional stimulus measures.
Last week, global equity markets saw heavy selling after weak German factory output and exports sparked concerns over the euro zone's sluggish recovery. If China's monthly data deluge misses forecasts, risk-off sentiment will likely continue.
On Monday, data from China showed exports grew at a much stronger than expected pace in September, while imports also rose, beating expectations of a decline.
Exports surged 15.3 percent in September from the year-ago period, beating the 11.8 percent gain expected in a Reuters poll and after rising 9.4 percent in August.
Imports also unexpectedly rose 7 percent, versus forecasts for a decline of 2.7 percent and following a fall of 2.4 percent in August.
But the country's trade surplus narrowed by a much bigger than expected margin, coming in at$31 billion from a record high of $49.8 billion in August. Analysts were expected a reading of $41 billion.
Investors are now looking ahead of other data due later in the week, including inflation numbers on Wednesday.
The consumer price index (CPI) is expected to rise 1.7 percent on year, according to estimates from National Australia Bank - slower than August's 2 percent gain, which was a four-month low.
Producer prices will likely remain mired in deflationary territory, expected to decline for the 31st consecutive month.
"Inflation pressures in China remain weak. Increased food supplies have pushed food prices down. The slowing housing market is resulting in steady disinflation in housing costs. These factors remained in place in September. A rebound in inflation is not expected until the government starts a broader easing campaign," Moody's Analytics said.
Foreign direct investment on Tuesday could continue to show weakness after hitting an over two-year low in August, with analysts citing a cooling property market and the yuan's recent appreciation as key hindrances.
Elsewhere in the region
India will release its consumer price index (CPI) and wholesale prices reports for September this week.
"We expect CPI inflation to ease to 7.1 percent in September from 7.8 percent last month on a combination of favorable base effect and partial normalization in vegetable prices," said economists at Citi Asia in a note.
Singapore will post advance estimates for third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) on Tuesday as well as announcing the central bank's semi-annual monetary policy decision. Citi expects headline GDP growth to show a sequential expansion of 0.8 percent on quarter, following the marginal 0.1 percent expansion in the second-quarter.
According to Reuters, most economists expect the bank to maintain its policy of allowing a "modest and gradual" strengthening of the Singapore dollar to guard against inflation.